Under the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, employers may hire only persons who can legally work in the United States, that is, citizens and nationals of the United States and non-citizens authorized to work in the United States. The employer must verify the identity and employment eligibility of anyone to be hired, which includes completing the Employment Eligibility Verification Form (I-9). Employers must keep each I-9 on file for at least three years or one year after employment ends, whichever is longer.
If you find a prospective employee who is not authorized to work in the United States but who you would like to hire, you should contact an immigration attorney to assist with the process of obtaining authorization.
