How to Fill Out Form I-9 Online

Form I-9 is the U.S. employment eligibility verification form every new hire completes so an employer can confirm identity and work authorization. If you want to fill out the I-9 form on your own computer, you can type your answers directly onto the PDF, check the right boxes, and sign it without printing anything. This guide walks through completing Section 1, the part you as an employee are responsible for.

Before you start

Download the current version of Form I-9 from the official USCIS website (uscis.gov). Forms are periodically updated with a new edition date printed at the bottom of the page, and employers must use the valid edition, so grab a fresh copy rather than reusing an old file. Have your personal details handy: your legal name, address, date of birth, and whichever identifying numbers the form asks for based on your citizenship or immigration status.

Only Section 1 is yours to complete, and you must finish it no later than your first day of paid work. The employer or an authorized representative handles the later sections, so don't fill in anything beyond what applies to you.

How to fill out Section 1 as a PDF

Open your I-9 PDF in the fill and sign tool. Because everything runs in your browser, the document you load is never uploaded to a server, which matters when a form carries your date of birth and other personal data.

1. Add your name and contact details. Click into each field and type your last name, first name, and any middle initial exactly as they appear on your documents. Continue with your address, city, state, and ZIP code. If a field like "Other Last Names Used" doesn't apply to you, most instructions ask you to enter "N/A" rather than leaving it blank.

2. Enter your date of birth and identifiers. Type your date of birth in the format the form shows, usually mm/dd/yyyy. Fill in an identifying number such as a Social Security number only if the form or your situation requires it. Check the official instructions to confirm which number applies to you.

3. Select your citizenship or immigration status. The form gives you a set of attestation options and asks you to choose exactly one. Click the checkbox next to the status that applies. If your choice unlocks extra fields, complete only those that appear for your selection.

4. Fill in any conditional fields. Depending on the box you checked, the form may ask for additional numbers or an expiration date. Type these carefully and use the format printed next to each field. Leave the boxes for other statuses empty.

5. Add the date. Enter the date you are actually completing the form. Keep it consistent with the day you sign.

6. Sign the form. Use the tool's signature feature to draw or type your signature in the employee signature field. A typed or drawn signature placed on the PDF is generally acceptable for an electronic I-9, but confirm your employer's preferred method.

7. Review and export. Read every field one more time, then save the completed PDF to your computer. You can send that file to your employer or bring it in, whichever they request.

Tips for a clean, error-free form

Match your entries to your documents. Names, numbers, and dates on the I-9 should line up with the identity and work-authorization documents you plan to present, because mismatches slow down verification.

If you make a mistake before exporting, just click back into the field and retype it. Since you're editing the PDF text directly rather than scribbling over a scan, corrections stay legible and there's no messy strike-through.

Avoid flattening or altering the form's structure. Use add text to the PDF only for a form that lacks proper fillable fields; when the official I-9 already has interactive fields, filling those keeps the layout intact.

Keep a copy for your records before you hand the file over. Once you close the browser tab, the version you worked on is gone from the tool, so save your own copy first.

After Section 1

Hand the form to your employer, who completes their portion and reviews your documents in person or through an authorized representative. If anything in your entries looks off to them, they may ask you to correct Section 1, which is easy to redo in the editor since your text lives in real form fields.

This article is general information about completing the PDF, not legal advice. For rules on eligibility, acceptable documents, and deadlines, always rely on the official USCIS Form I-9 instructions.