U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has released a new version of Form I-9, which reintroduces the term “alien” as an option for categorizing an employee’s citizenship or immigration status.
This change aligns the form with statutory language. Previously, in 2023, the Biden administration had replaced “alien” with “noncitizen” in Form I-9 and other official documents, considering “alien” to be dehumanizing.
The updated Form I-9, dated January 20, 2025, and expiring on May 31, 2027, includes several changes:
- Restored the term “alien”
- Revised descriptions for two List B documents in the Lists of Acceptable Documents
- Updated statutory language and a revised DHS Privacy Notice in the instructions
Employers can continue using the Form I-9 with the August 1, 2023, edition date until it expires on May 31, 2027. However, electronic versions must be updated by July 31, 2026 with the new form dated January 20, 2025.
Starting April 3, 2025, E-Verify and E-Verify+ will update the Citizenship Status selection to reflect the new language. Depending on the form edition used, employees and employers might still see “noncitizen authorized to work” instead of “alien authorized to work” in some E-Verify cases.
For more information
For more details, you can visit the USCIS website: USCIS Form I-9 Changes
Reach out to OneGroup’s Human Resources Consulting team for an I-9 toolkit to help you prepare in case Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) visits your organization. This toolkit will ensure you have all the necessary documentation and procedures in place to remain compliant with immigration laws.
Source: Cardman, M. (2025, April 7). Minor changes to Form I-9 and E-Verify updates. Brightmine.
This content is for informational purposes only and not for the purpose of providing professional, financial, medical or legal advice. You should contact your licensed professional to obtain advice with respect to any particular issue or problem. Please refer to your policy contract for any specific information or questions on applicability of coverage.
Please note coverage can not be bound or a claim reported without written acknowledgment from a OneGroup Representative.