September 2023: I-9 Forms

The I-9 Form is a form that all employers are required to maintain with respect to each person employed.  As a part of the I-9 process, employees are required to present documentation that establishes their identity and eligibility to work in the United States.  And, employers (or an authorized representative) are required to physically examine, in the employee’s physical presence, the unexpired documentation to complete a portion of the I-9 Form. This examination typically must occur within 3 business days of the employee’s first day of employment.  During COVID, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) allowed employers to remotely examine (in lieu of in-person examination) this documentation for new hires who worked remotely; this allowance was set to end July 31, 2023.  However, the U.S. DHS recently extended this deadline to August 30, 2023.  So, employers now have until August 30, 2023, to conduct the physical verification of documentation of persons whose documentation had only been reviewed remotely. 

Additionally, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services recently announced a soon-to-be forthcoming, updated I9 Form. It is anticipated it will be shorter and more streamlined than the current form.  Be on the lookout for it!