Employment Eligibility Verification — Duplicate

U.S. Government Shutdown - I-9 Verification Process & Requirements Reminders - October 2025

E-Verify Unavailable
The E-Verify system connected to federal contracts/grants is temporarily offline due to the shutdown, and the government has suspended the “three-day rule” for creating E-Verify cases. Updates are available here. I-9 forms still need to be completed, and those with newly assigned federally sponsored awards (grants and contracts) must still recomplete I-9 within 30 days after they are assigned the award if they were not previously E-Verified.

Tentative Non-Confirmations (TNCs) Paused
TNCs, a process that occurs when the I-9 information does not match government records, are paused during the shutdown, and the resolution timeline will restart once E-Verify resumes.

I-9 Requirements Remain in Effect
All new hires and rehires must complete, through the normal process outlined below, the Form I-9 on time:

Section 1: On or before the first day of work
Section 2: Within three business days of the start date the latest

Foreign nationals can and must still schedule SSA appointments to apply for a Social Security Number. Please check the SSA website for updates on office availability.

In order to comply with federal law, all employees hired after Nov. 6, 1986, must complete a Form I-9 and provide evidence of identity and employment authorization to document that they are authorized to work in the United States.

All new hires and those rehired with more than a three-day break in service must complete Section 1 of the Form I-9 by the end of their first day of work for pay. Section 2 of the Form I-9 must be completed within 3 days of employment. The Form I-9 may not be completed more than 90 days before your hire/start date.

All employees hired on or after Nov. 15, 2009, must also be E-verified, using an internet-based employment verification system operated by the Department of Homeland Security in conjunction with the Social Security Administration. This E-Verify requirement also applies to individuals hired before Nov. 15, 2009 who are currently supported by a federal contract.

Johns Hopkins University does not discriminate on the basis of national origin, in compliance with federal law.

Completing the Form I-9

Completing the Form I-9 is an important step in your employment process. Your Form I-9 must be properly completed to avoid delays with payroll processing. Refer to your “JHU Welcome Email” for details about how to complete the I-9 process. You can email [email protected] if you have questions related to completing the I-9 process.

New hires can complete Section 1 of Form I-9 as early as 30 days prior to their start date and will have until the end of their first day of employment to complete. Section 2 of the Form I-9 must be completed no later than (3) business days after their first day of work. To begin the process, you will need to (a) select your employee classification (new or returning after a break in service); and (b) enter your hire date and your home zip code or campus address zip code for JHU students in appropriate fields location on the JHU I-9 Compliance website (refer to your “JHU Welcome Email” for a link to the website).

Once you make your selection, you will receive instructions on how to complete Section 1 of your Form I-9 and will be able to schedule an in-person appointment to complete Section 2 of the Form I-9. If there are no appointments available within 3 days of your start date, please email [email protected] for additional options. You must present original, unexpired documents to complete Section 2 of the Form I-9. The documents must be unexpired as of the date of hire. Acceptable documents that can be presented can be found here: https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents.

Information for Foreign Nationals

If you are a foreign national, who is not a legal permanent resident (green card holder), you must complete the Foreign National Information Form (FNIF) and upload the required documents at the following secure link: https://web.onbase.jh.edu/UnityForms/targetpages/FNIF.html. If you do not have a Social Security Card (SSN) but have received a temporary ID number (TIN) that begins with the digits 988, enter that number on the FNIF. We suggest you complete the FNIF form no later than the end of your first day at Hopkins. Questions related to this form should be directed to [email protected].

If you are a foreign national and you do not have a Social Security Number (SSN) that has been issued by the Social Security Administration, or if you have been given a temporary ID number that begins with the numbers 988, leave the SSN field blank on the Form I-9 and select SSN Applied For. You must apply for and obtain a Social Security card as soon as possible. Instructions on how to apply for this card can be found on the OIS website: https://ois.jhu.edu/Legal_Matters/Social_Security_Information/. Your SSN is required to complete the I-9 process and to ensure that your payroll records are accurate. Once obtained, upload a copy of our SSN card using the link emailed to you through the ONBASE system (see Foreign National Information section below).

What happens if I do not complete my Form I-9?

All new hires are placed on a I-9 hold until a completed Form I-9 is received and processed. Failure to complete your Form I-9 could jeopardize your continued employment with Johns Hopkins University.

Resources for JHU I-9 Administrators