Blogs

INDUSTRY NEWS

Form I-9 COVID-19 Flexibility May End Soon - Physically Review ASAP!

On March 20, 2020 the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced flexibility in complying with requirements related to Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification (Form I-9), due to COVID-19 for employers that are, or were, operating remotely.

This flexibility deferred the physical presence requirements associated with Form I-9, Section 2, to complete the review of acceptable documents to determine identification and authorization to work in the United States. Business Information Group has previously reported on these flexibility requirements.

During this "flexibility period" employers with employees taking physical proximity precautions due to COVID-19 will not be required to review the employee's identity and employment authorization documents in the employee's physical presence. However, employers must inspect the Section 2 documents remotely (e.g., over video link, fax or email, etc.) and obtain, inspect, and retain copies of the documents, within three (3) business days for purposes of completing Section 2.

DHS and ICE extended the flexibility ten times over the past year and a half. The current extension (through August 31, 2021), includes guidance for employees hired on or after June 1, 2021, and work exclusively in a remote setting due to COVID-19-related precautions. Those employees are temporarily exempt from the physical inspection requirements associated with the Form I-9 until they undertake non-remote employment on a regular, consistent, or predictable basis, or the extension of the flexibilities related to such requirements is terminated, whichever is earlier.

Once normal operations resume, all employees onboarded using remote verification must report to their employer within three (3) business days for in-person verification of identity and employment eligibility documentation for Form I-9. ICE noted, "Employers also should enter "COVID-19" as the reason for the physical inspection delay in the Section 2 Additional Information field once physical inspection takes place after normal operations resume." Moreover, once the the employer physically inspects the documents they should add "documents physically examined" with the inspection date to the Section 2 "additional information field" on the Form I-9, or section 3 as appropriate.

Three (3) business days does not provide much time for employers that may have accumulated a high volume of new hires that completed their Form I-9 through the exception. We therefore highly encourage employers who have resumed "normal" operations and who have taken advantage of these rare flexibility rules to start the in-person review of the documentation as soon as possible to comply with the three-day rule.

For more information, visit: https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/covid-19-form-i-9-related-news/dhs-extends-form-i-9-requirement-flexibility-effective-june-1-2021

Posted: June 16, 2021


All Rights Reserved © 2021 Business Information Group, Inc.
This document and/or presentation is provided as a service to our customers. Its contents are designed solely for informational purposes, and should not be inferred or understood as legal advice or binding case law, nor shared with any third parties. Persons in need of legal assistance should seek the advice of competent legal counsel. Although care has been taken in preparation of these materials, we cannot guarantee the accuracy, currency or completeness of the information contained within it. Anyone using this information does so at his or her own risk.

Sending...
Thank you for your interest in Business Information Group. We have received your message and will contact you in one business day or less.
You have exceeded the number of attempts to submit this form. As a result, your IP address has been temporarily blocked.

Get In Touch

Send a Message *fields required

What are your Interests?optional

Contact Information

Even our RFP PROCESS is state-of-the-art.

Take a look
RFP Kit

What our clients are saying

We cannot express enough how much we have enjoyed working with BIG! It has really benefitted our processing and ease of doing business!

Licensing and Registration Manager
Investment and Insurance Company

I enjoy collaborating with BIG, and know that if I have to reach out with a question/concern, a positive attitude with a willingness to find resolve is on the other side of an email or a phone call.

Human Resources Administrator
Global Financial Services Firm

You have been the most professional and most helpful business partner that I have ever been associated with — always there to assist us and with rapid turnaround times.

Principal Consultant
Major Professional Services Network

I am confident whenever we add a product with your company that I will have a good experience.

Division Manager
Insurance and Financial Services Agency

We have received superior service and we know this is what you and your team strive for. We are grateful for the dedication, level of professionalism and effort shown.

Agent
Large Insurance Agency

You are leaving BIGReport.com

Ok, Continue Cancel

×
×