In response to the ongoing challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) had implemented temporary measures that allowed for employers to verify new hire identification and work authorization documents virtually. This temporary order will end on July 31, 2023.
What does this mean for your organization?
When the temporary order expires, employers must return to the previous requirements for I-9 verifications. Specifically, this means that I-9s must be completed within three days of the new hire’s first day of employment, and identification and work authorization documents must be confirmed in person by the authorized employer representative who is completing the I-9 form.
In addition, I-9 documents for all employees hired since March 20, 2020 must be re-verified if those documents were verified virtually at the time of hiring.
Action Required:
In addition, employers have until August 30, 2023, to review and verify the documents of any employee hired since March 20, 2020. If the person who virtually examined the documents is not the one who performed the physical inspection of the documents at that time, then the employer representative conducting the physical inspection should complete a new Section 2 of the Form I-9 and attach that to the complete remote inspection Form I-9.
Action Required:
It is important for employers to understand and follow I-9 retention requirements, especially since DHS typically only gives 3-days’ notice of an inspection.
I-9s must be retained:
Once the retention period has passed, I-9 documents should be securely destroyed since they contain sensitive and confidential information. For any I-9 documents stored electronically, extra care should be taken to ensure that they are only accessible by those who are authorized, and they are deleted in a manner that prevents information from later being recovered or retrieved.
Employers that purge I-9s too early and are found to be out of compliance can face penalties as high as $2,300 per I-9 document. Purging I-9s in line with the retention requirements reduces an employer’s liability should an inspection occur.
It should also be noted that I-9 forms and supporting documentation must be kept separate from all other employee files. The best practice is for all employer’s I-9 forms to be kept in a separate binder (for physical files) or electronic folder (for electronic files), in a location separate from all other employee files.
Action Required:
ARI provides comprehensive human resources services, supporting our clients in implementing the immediate and long-term HR needs of small to mid-size businesses. If you are looking for guidance in this area, contact us.