DHS Extends I-9 Remote Verification Flexibility to July 19
DHS and ICE extended COVID-19 Form I-9 remote verification flexibility through July 19, 2020, giving employers more time before resuming in-person checks.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) extended the Form I-9 requirement flexibility accommodations that were first issued in March, this time through July 19.
As DHS previously announced during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, employers that have implemented physical proximity policies may continue to verify an employee's identity documents remotely. E-Verify participants who meet the criteria and choose the remote inspection option should continue to follow current guidance and create cases for their new hires within three business days of the date of hire.
As a reminder, if you're an employer that uses CRC's online I-9 form documentation service, you can take advantage of additional features we've added to help reduce the burden of organizing and tracking this update. We've added a checkbox at the top of Section 2 titled "Operating remotely, physical inspection delay, COVID-19." Checking this box allows the employer to upload a copy of the documents. Once normal operations resume, customers are notified to complete their physical inspections and mark them as complete on their forms.
Note: This update reflects DHS and ICE guidance in effect as of June 2020, during the early COVID-19 pandemic. Remote I-9 verification flexibility has since been modified and ultimately ended, so employers should confirm current requirements before relying on remote inspection.
If you have any questions about DHS's announcement or CRC's I-9 fulfillment services, please reach out to our Sales team.
