The I-9 was supposed to be an easy, straightforward kind of document – a simple piece of paperwork to record that a company has verified its new hire’s eligibility to work in the United States. Yet those of us in the trenches know that completing an I-9 properly involves interpreting some often-conflicting instructions, navigating through numerous “gray areas” of the law, and ultimately hoping for the best. Which brings us to the “Preparer and/or Translator Certification,” that often-ignored yet very important portion of the Form I-9 which resides directly beneath section 1. The USCIS has provided us with some guidance on the preparer/translator section over the years, but you’d actually have to refer to several different sourcesto get the full picture. Here’s an attempt to “demystify” this section and provide a small glimpse into its potential future.

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