Department of Homeland Security Increases Form I-9 Fines

By Imagility

Posted in Attorney, Blogs, Petitioner
June 27, 2024

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Increased I-9 Fines Can Cost Employers Big

Employers in the U.S. have a responsibility to verify the employment eligibility of all new hires. This is done through Form I-9, a document that requires verification of identity and work authorization. However, failing to comply with I-9 regulations can lead to hefty fines from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

Recent I-9 Fine Increases

Recently, DHS announced significant increases in penalties for I-9 violations. As of February 13, 2024, the potential fines have risen dramatically:

Substantive Violations: Minimum: $281, Maximum: $2,789 (Previously: $230 – $2,292)
Knowingly Hiring Unauthorized Workers: First Offense: $698 – $5,579 per undocumented immigrant (Previously: $573 – $4,586)

These increases highlight the importance of I-9 compliance for employers. Here’s why:

Financial Impact: A single I-9 violation can result in substantial fines, significantly impacting your bottom line.
Delays and Disruptions: I-9 audits can lead to business interruptions and delays while documents are reviewed.
Reputational Damage: Non-compliance can damage your company’s reputation and make it difficult to attract skilled workers.

Calculating Your Potential I-9 Fines

Use the I-9 Fine Calculator to estimate potential fines based on the type of violation and the number of employees.

The Importance of I-9 Compliance

While avoiding hefty fines is crucial, I-9 compliance goes beyond just avoiding penalties. It also demonstrates your commitment to a legal workforce and helps deter unauthorized employment.

Tips for ensuring I-9 compliance

Develop a clear I-9 completion process and train your staff on proper procedures.
Make sure you use only the latest version of Form I-9 and stay updated on any regulation changes.
Carefully review all documentation for accuracy and completeness.
Maintain a secure system for storing I-9 forms. We recommend using an immigration software like Imagility I-9 & Compliance to securely store employee documents and I-9 forms.
Consider using I-9 management software to streamline the process and minimize errors. Imagility I-9 & Compliance can manage all your compliance requirements, for each visa program including LCA filing and posting, public & private access files, maintaining I-9 Forms, remote I-9, FDNS, and more.

Imagility: Your Partner in I-9 Compliance

Imagility I-9 and Compliance can simplify I-9 compliance by:

Automating data entry and verification
Guiding users through the completion process
Ensuring timely completion and retention of I-9 forms
Providing secure cloud storage for I-9 documents
Enabling digital signatures for I-9 forms
Offering remote I-9 verification services
Integrating with E-Verify for seamless verification
Streamlining document uploads and secure storage
Managing and securely storing Public Access Files (PAFs) to ensure audit readiness

By prioritizing I-9 compliance and utilizing tools like Imagility, you can maintain a legal workforce, avoid costly fines, and focus on what matters most – running your business.