By what deadline must an employer complete Section 2 of Form I-9 (examining the employee's documents) for a new hire?
Explanation
The employee completes Section 1 no later than the first day of employment; the employer completes Section 2 by examining the documents by the end of the third business day after the employee begins work for pay. (a) is not merely early, it is unlawful - demanding work-authorization documents before an offer invites a citizenship-status discrimination claim under 8 U.S.C. §1324b. (b) borrows the 20-day deadline of the California DE 34 new-hire report. (d) borrows the 30-day rhythm of benefits enrollment. Three business days is a much shorter fuse than any of them, which is why I-9 Section 2 is the onboarding step most often missed on a fast-moving crew.
Law Reference: 8 C.F.R. §274a.2(b)(1)(ii); 8 U.S.C. §1324a(b)This topic, taught in full in the CSLB Law & Business guide. CSLB Law & Business — Complete Study Guide (2026) — PDF + EPUB, $24.99 · 14-day refund →
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