06/04/08 Getting Ready for the I-9

Get Prepared for the I-9. I'm Greg Martin with today's Fruit Grower Report. Ag producers that deal with hiring legal aliens will want to pay attention to this, especially if filling out paperwork is not one of your favorite activities. Washington State Farm Bureau has put together a workshop on how to correctly fill out those I-9 forms. FAZIO: It's in the response to request from members because what happens is that your best defense against a claim that you knowingly hired an illegal alien is to have a properly filled out I-9. That's Dan Fazio with WSFB Member Services. He says this workshop should get you ready. FAZIO: How to fill out, how to file, how to retain, how to audit your Department of Homeland Security's Employment Verification form commonly known as the I-9. What we do is we go through the I-9, a little bit about its history; a little bit about the immigration reform picture of where we are today and why it's so vitally important that you have your I-9's filled out properly. There is also a newly updated handbook that will help answer any questions you might have. FAZIO: And then if employers want we'll talk about what you should do if you get a request from the immigration and customs enforcement people to audit your I-9's or to come on to your property or to visit with one of your workers. The workshop is not mandatory but will be extremely helpful in making sure you have all of your documentation in order. For more information on the workshop, be sure and contact the Washington State Farm Bureau. That's today's Fruit Grower Report. I'm Greg Martin on the Northwest Ag Information Network.