Employers must start using a revised version of Form I-9 immediately, according to USCIS.

The new form went into effect on December 26, 2007.

The new form removes five “List A” documents from those documents deemed acceptable, and adds the most recent version of the EAD card. Certain other changes were made to the form as well.

The revised form and the “Handbook for Employers, Instructions for Completing the Form I-9” are available online at www.uscis.gov.

NEW NATURALIZATION TEST

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) recently announced that it will start administering a revised civics test to citizenship applicants in October of 2008. According to USCIS, the new test will still focus on the U.S. Constitution, federal law and American democracy, but it will also have questions on geography and the rights and responsibilities of citizenship.

Everyone who files their applications for naturalization on or after October 1, 2008 will have to take the new test. Those who file their applications before October 1, 2008 but who are interviewed on or after that date will be given the option of taking either the old test or the new test.

USCIS provides a link to the 100 questions that will comprise the civics portion of the new test on its website, www.uscis.gov. USCIS has also posted the reading and writing vocabulary lists, a side-by-side comparison of the new test and old test, and answers to frequently asked questions on its website.

This Immigration Bulletin is not intended as a substitute for professional legal advice.

Debra R. Shpigler is a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association.