GoffWilson Immigration bLAWg

Summer is nearly here and it is time to start thinking about your summer employment needs. For many of you, that means that you will be hiring employees on the J-1 visa program and you will need to figure out how to fill out the I-9 form properly with the documents that they have.

While J-1 exchange visitors are not issued Employment Authorization Documents (Form I-766), they will have three documents that are acceptable List A documentation when presented together:

1. Unexpired foreign passport;
2. Form I-94/I-94A; and
3. Form DS-2019.

Employers should record the following data under List A:

• Foreign passport title, number, issuing authority, and passport expiration date on the first four lines;
• 11 digit Form I-94/I-94A number and its expiration dates (which may be duration of status, which is frequently handwritten at “D/S” on the I-94 card) on the next two lines; and
• Form DS-2019 number (SEVIS number) and expiration date of employment authorization listed on the form wherever you can fit this information on the form.

Whew! All of that information in that little space! Since you will not have enough lines to record all of the information, it is best to write this information in Section 2 and keep a copy of all three supporting documents with the I-9 form.

If only removing sand from the car was just as easy!