Created in 1986 to help employers comply with the then-new Immigration Reform and Control Act (IRCA), the I-9 form, otherwise known as the employment eligibility verification form, asks potential employees for proof of identification and citizenship. Employers are not responsible for authenticating documents that appear to be authentic; however the fines can be stiff if there are errors on an I-9 form. A missing or botched I-9 can cost you between $110 and $1,100. The fines for knowingly hiring unauthorized employees are much higher. They start at between $250 and $2,500 for the first violation and rise steeply for the second and third. The following original documents are acceptable to establish identity and right to employment on an I-9 form: a passport, certificate of U.S. citizenship, certificate of Naturalization, a passport, an alien registration receipt card, a temporary resident card, or an employment authorization card. There is also a list of documents that are acceptable to establish identity for individuals 16 years or older. These mostly include I.D. cards that include photo identification. And lastly, the I9 form requires proof of employment eligibility. Find out More about the I-9 Form HR.BLR.com is the most complete source for practical human resources advice and plain-English compliance analysis available anywhere. No matter what the HR topic - from termination to the I-9 form - you’ll find hands-on help you can count on. As the laws in different states on Human Resources get more difficult and complex, keeping current can spell the difference between success and disaster for your business. The HR.BLR.com editorial staff monitors a host of private and government sources to keep you up-to-date on all the important human resource developments. The HR Library has more helpful I-9 resources like these: I-9 Procedure Policy for New Hires Sample I-9 Forms Updates to the I-9 Form