Did my ID get lost in the buyout?

February 6, 2007 9:45 AM

Should US DOJ I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification forms (and associated copies of ID) for employees of Company A transfer from Company A to company B if Company B buys Company A? Of course, there's

So I previously worked for Company A and am now an employee of Company B via the buyout of A by B.

Buyout occurred in middle of 2006.

HR Manager of Company B is just now (Feb 2007) demanding that I, and other former employees of A, fill out a new I-9 and provide copies of the requisite identification.

My issue is - what happened to the I-9 and ID copies I originally provided to Company A? I'd hate to think that mine, and hundreds of others, are sitting in an old file cabinet somewhere just waiting to be brokered to the identity trading underground...

Should I be asking Company B where Company A's records are, or do I need to just shut up and fill out the new I-9 and bring in a copy of my passport again?

posted by de void to work & money (4 comments total)

It depends on the terms of the buyout. A website geared towards immigration law has this to say:

If the acquiring company does not assume all of the assets and liabilities, then the I-9s will likely not transfer. In a merger case where the acquiring entity is a successor in interest, new I-9s will not be needed.

posted by cerebus19 at 9:52 AM on February 6, 2007

To answer your actual question, though, I think you should just fill out the new form as requested.
posted by cerebus19 at 9:53 AM on February 6, 2007

I'm pretty sure that B assumed all of A's assetts and liabilities.

From the visalaw site you linked, it appears B has the ability, but not the obligation, to re-use A's I-9's.
posted by de void at 10:08 AM on February 6, 2007

IANAL, but I've 'been bought' (the company I worked for was purchased) 3 times, the most recent being in November '06, so I have some experience with this.

Even if the purchasing company DOES assume all liabilities and assets, almost certainly the logistics of the buyout were such that your employment was terminated with your old company and you were offered employment at the purchasing company. Every time the company I worked for was acquired this was how it was done, complete with offer letter and everything.

So even though the company you worked for was bought, you are being offered brand-new employment at the buying company, and thus need to provide new proof of employability.
posted by wolftrouble at 10:49 AM on February 6, 2007