I-9 Compliance Risk Diagnostic

10 questions · 5 minutes · defensibility score

This diagnostic does not require an ICE notice, audit trigger, or document upload.

Why Companies Take This Diagnostic

Most organizations don’t realize I-9 risk exists until

By then, remediation becomes reactive and expensive.

This diagnostic gives you a baseline defensibility score early, privately, and without disruption.

What This Diagnostic Reveals

In under 5 minutes, you’ll uncover

% of potentially missing or invalid I-9s
Reverification tracking weaknesses
E-Verify misunderstanding risks
Storage and decentralization issues
Exposure triggered by M&A or layoffs
Estimated fine risk range (not a scare tactic, a planning metric)

How This Works

Select the best answer for each question. 
Add the points at the end.

Higher score = Higher compliance risk

Score

Risk Level

Suggested Action

0–10

Low Risk

Monitor annually

11–20

Moderate Risk

Corrective action recommended

21–30

High Risk

Formal remediation advised

31-40+

Critical Risk

Urgent remediation + legal counsel

A Quick Reality Check

ICE penalties are rarely about intent. They are about paperwork defensibility.

Two companies can have identical hiring practices — the one with structured documentation pays dramatically less.

Estimated Fine Exposure Ranges (Illustrative – Not Legal Advice)

Based on publicly available ICE/DHS civil penalty adjustment ranges:

Paperwork / Technical Violations

Examples: missing dates, incomplete sections, improper corrections, late completion

Approximate Range: $300 – $3,000 per form

Substantive Violations

Examples: failure to properly verify identity or work authorization

Approximate Range: Higher within the same per-form range depending on severity

Knowingly Hiring or Continuing to Employ Unauthorized Workers

Approximate Range: $700 – $30,000+ per violation

(Amounts escalate significantly for repeat findings)

How Your Score Relates to Exposure

Low Risk (0–15)

Minimal per-form exposure if audited; typically correctable documentation gaps.

Moderate Risk (16–30)

Potential $10K – $100K+ cumulative exposure depending on employee count and error frequency.

High Risk (31–45)

Potential six-figure exposure if systemic documentation or verification issues are identified.

Critical Risk (46–60)

Potential significant financial and operational exposure, particularly if unauthorized employment or repeated violations are found.

Disclaimer: These figures are general public reference ranges intended for planning awareness only. Actual penalties vary based on audit findings, company size, good-faith efforts, prior history, and regulatory discretion. This diagnostic does not constitute legal advice.

Who This Is For

HR & People Operations Leaders
General Counsel & Compliance Officers
CFOs preparing for diligence
PE Portfolio Operations
Companies with distributed or remote hiring
Organizations with visa-holding workforces

What This Is Not

It is simply a risk visibility tool.

Why This Matters

The goal of I-9 remediation is not perfection; it is defensibility. Structured corrective action can significantly reduce fines, disruption, and reputational risk before regulators ask questions.