The I-9 form has a single purpose: to record that a company has verified a new hire's eligibility to work in the United States. But the I-9 has also been called "America's most complicated (and constantly evolving) form," for good reason: the I-9 guide, Publication M-274 - Handbook for Employers, runs to 66 pages.

Now, employers have specific guidance for connecting mistakes or omissions found on the forms during internal audits.

A guidance document titled "Joint Guidance for Employers Conducting Internal Employment Eligibility Verification Form I-9 Audits" was released by the Department of Justice's Civil Rights Division and the Department of Homeland Security's U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The six-page document provides employers with specific instructions and practical tips for avoiding discrimination issues when correcting I-9 forms.

Employers need to know how to correct a mistake on an employee's I-9 form - and comply with federal employment eligibility verification process - without makign matters worse. The guidance document is available on either the ICE Web site at www.ice.gov/sites/default/files/documents/Document/2015/i9-guidance.pdf or from the Office of Special Counsel for Immigration - Related Unfair Employment Practices (OSC) Web site at www.justice.gov/crt/file/798276/download.