Alternative Procedure for Remote Form I-9 Document Verification

Discover the Alternative Procedure for Remote I-9 Document Verification for E-Verify Employers

Eligible employers enrolled in the E-Verify program can utilize an alternative verification process for remotely verifying Form I-9 documents, an integral part of the Employment Eligibility Verification process. This alternative process, endorsed by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), allows eligible employers enrolled in the E-Verify program to streamline the I-9 verification process for employees who were onboarded remotely during the COVID-19 flexibilities period. This blog provides comprehensive insights into the alternative procedure that eliminates the need for an in-person physical examination.

Here’s how the alternative procedure works.

Within the first three days of a new hire’s employment, the employer or an authorized third-party agent acting on the employer’s behalf, utilizing the alternative procedure, must do the following.

1. Verify the authenticity of Form I-9 documents presented by the employee by reviewing copies of the documents or an acceptable receipt.
2. Conduct a live video interaction with the employee to verify the authenticity and relevance of the documents to the individual. (The new hire must transmit a copy of the document to the employer and present the same document during the video interaction.)
3. By completing the respective box, the employer or the third-party agent must indicate on Form I-9 that the alternative procedure was used to examine the documentation for Section 2 of the I-9 form or for reverification, as applicable.
4. Retain clear and legible copies of the documentation presented and make the form and the documentation available for Form I-9 audits or investigations by federal government officials.