The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) once again is extending its flexibility regarding the physical presence requirements for I-9 inspection for until April 2022 due to the ongoing precautions related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The DHS has extended the I-9 Remote Option. This also extends the requirements that Employers who use this process need to put in place. For example:

Eligible employers may continue to inspect Section 2 documents remotely (e.g., over video… fax, or email)! But must still reverify the physical documents when normal operations resume!

Employers must provide written documentation of their remote onboarding and telework policy for each covered employee.

While this flexibility is helpful to Employers, it only impacts remote employees. These Employers must understand that they are still required to reverify documents for those remote employees when normal operations resume.

Generally, ICE enforces an employer’s obligation to verify, and re-verify, the work authorization of all new employees. ICE may enforce this responsibility through random I-9 compliance audits or through a narrower investigation based on a lead.

The lead can be an anonymous tip, or facts that form a reasonable suspicion of an employer’s non compliance. ICE has been concentrating its recent enforcement efforts on investigations, not random audits like previously.

These investigations have focused on all industries viewed as employing a large percentage of unauthorized workers (e.g., the construction industry, landscaping, manufacturing or agricultural industry). However, there are still efforts by ICE to continue investigations in the workplace.

This I-9 form preparation, correction and audit webinar will be a step by step process and discussion of all the new guidelines for completing the new I-9 form as well as the ongoing regulations for appropriate method of correcting this document without incurring fines and penalties.

• COVID-19 has shifted the focus on regulatory agencies. Learn how the extension of the flexibility for remote employees still has requirements that have to be provided by Employers
• Learn what specifics do Employers have to have in place to complete the I-9 Remote Option when the policy expires
• Learn what the focus is for ICE during the pandemic when it comes to I-9 Audits
• Learn how to conduct an internal I-9 Form Audit and reduce your error rate
• Although the I-9 document appears like a simple document, more than 72% of Employers have I-9 Documents with errors
• I-9 documents can be audited by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and many DHS investigators know this is a weakness for most Employers
• Using the Internal I-9 Audit and Storage Program provided for free, you can reduce your error rate
• Inappropriate storage of I-9 documents in employee’s personnel files can lead to discrimination claims;
• Disgruntled employees can turn in Employers for I-9 document violations which will bring DHS to your doorstep!
• How is the right way to correct I-9 documents and save your company from unnecessary violations?
• What is the minimal risk Employers have when establishing an I-9 document Correction & Storage Process?
• Learn if outsourcing your internal I-9 Audit can save you time and protect the company from ICE audits
• How long should I-9 documents need to be retained for active and terminated employees?
• Why are most HR professionals or those responsible for processing I-9 documents still violating the request for documents section?
• Learn about guidelines on how to prepare for an audit from DHS

In this webinar, our expert speaker Margie Faulk will focus on the intricate process of reviewing, correcting, and creating an internal effective process. This will help employers and professionals create a risk management strategy that will help avoid violations of I-9 Form errors. She will also provide insights on how to minimize risks and what’s the appropriate method of correcting this document without incurring fines and penalties.

• All Employers
• Business Owners
• Company Leadership
• Compliance professionals
• HR Professionals
• Managers/Supervisors
• Employers in all industries
• Small Business Owners
• Large Business Owners