At what point in the hiring process is the I-9 screening used?

The I-9 screening is specifically used to verify an employee's identity and eligibility to work in the United States. This process must be conducted after a job offer has been made but before the employee begins work and starts earning wages. Completing the I-9 form is a legal requirement for employers to ensure compliance with immigration laws.

When the individual has already been hired and has commenced earning wages, it becomes too late for the employer to verify their eligibility to work as per the legal requirements set forth by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Employers must complete the I-9 verification process within three days of the employee starting work, ensuring that they are indeed authorized to be employed. This emphasizes the importance of executing the I-9 process promptly and at the right stage of the hiring process, which is after a job offer is confirmed but before work begins. Thus, waiting until after an employee has started earning wages does not align with the correct protocol for I-9 verification.