The U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced an end to the COVID-19 documentation flexibilities for Form I-9 (Employment Eligibility Verification) as of 7/31/23 and, at the same time, introduced a new alternative procedure effective 8/1/23. The new optional procedure provides an alternative for certain employers to remotely examine Form I-9 documents, instead of conforming to the requirement to examine documents in person.
To participate in the program, employers must be enrolled in E-Verify, examine and retain copies of all documents, conduct a live video interaction with the employee, and create an E-Verify case if the employee is a new hire. In coordination with this new procedure, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services published a revised version of Form I-9 on 8/1/23. Employers may use the current Form I-9 (Rev. 10/21/19) through 10/31/23.
