Arizona Contractors License Practice Exam

For how long must immigration forms be retained?

1. One year

2. Three years

3. Five years

4. Indefinitely

The correct answer is: Three years

The correct duration for retaining immigration forms is three years. This retention period is established to ensure that employers maintain adequate records regarding their employees' legal eligibility to work in the United States. Under federal law, especially tied to Form I-9 requirements, employers are required to keep these records for three years after the hire date or for one year after the employee's departure, whichever is longer. This allows for appropriate compliance checks and potential audits regarding immigration status. The retention of immigration forms for three years strikes a balance between having sufficient documentation to verify employment eligibility and the practical aspect of record-keeping that does not extend indefinitely or overwhelm administrative systems with outdated records.