Filing Employee I-9 Forms

In the past month I’ve read two articles with conflicting information about I-9 forms and where they should be filed. Help!
– HR Manager, Business Services Firm

I think I saw the same articles. The I-9 form, which is the written proof all employers need from their employees that they are eligible to work in the US, are best filed separately from the employee files. While the INS does not mandate this, the presence of photocopies of photo identification (e.g. Driver’s License, Passport) could prove problematic. Place the I-9’s for all active employees in a separate file folder or book. Also….keep the forms of those terminated employees for at least 2 years.