In the Benefits Office, we manage several Human Resources administrative functions for the Conference. It’s important for us to remind all churches, as employers, of the requirement to maintain Form I-9s for your employees. While the Conference maintains these records for clergy, churches must ensure they have I-9 forms for all other employees.

Here’s what you need to do:

• Have a completed Form I-9 on file for each employee.
• Retain and store these forms for three years after the date of hire, or for one year after employment ends, whichever is later.
• Keep the forms easily accessible in a separate file from individual employee records, as they may be subject to inspection by authorized U.S. government officials from the Department of Homeland Security, Department of Labor, or Department of Justice.

While you are not required to submit I-9 forms to any agency, it is crucial to have them readily available for inspection if requested.

If you require further information on handling Form I-9s, please contact the Benefits Office or refer to additional resources here. It’s essential to ensure compliance and proper record-keeping to avoid potential penalties.

Last Updated on August 1, 2024