Correcting Form I-9

Employers may only correct errors made in Section 2 or Section 3 of Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification.

If you discover an error in Section 1 of an employee’s Form I-9, you should ask your employee to correct the error.

To correct the form: 

• Draw a line through the incorrect information.
• Enter the correct information.
• Initial and date the correction.

To correct multiple, recording errors on the form, you may redo the section on a new Form I-9 and attach it to the old form. A new Form I-9 can also be completed if major errors (such as entire sections being left blank or Section 2 being completed based on unacceptable documents) need to be corrected. A note should be included in the file regarding the reason you made changes to an existing Form I-9 or completed a new Form I-9.

Be sure not to conceal any changes made on the form (other than simple notation errors when copying document information). Doing so may lead to increased liability under federal immigration law.

If you have made changes on a Form I-9 using correction fluid, we recommend that you attach a signed and dated note to the corrected Forms I-9 explaining what happened.

U.S. Immigration Customs and Enforcement and the Immigrant and Employee Rights Section (IER) have provided joint guidance to help employers perform internal audits. Audits allow employers to ensure Forms I-9 have been completed correctly, and to make corrections if errors are found. Learn more about Guidance for Employers Conducting Internal Employment Eligibility Verification Form I-9 Audits.