Federal law requires employers to hire only individuals who may legally work in the United States—either U.S. citizens or authorized foreign nationals. To comply with the law, employers must verify the identity and employment authorization of each individual they hire by completing and retaining the Employment Eligibility Verification form (Form I-9). Employers must have a completed Form I-9 for every employee hired after Nov. 6, 1986.
To monitor employers’ compliance with Form I-9 obligations, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) conduct audits. These audits—also known as inspections—are often an in-depth review of an employer’s completed Forms I-9 and supporting documents for current and former employees. Recently, the federal government has greatly increased Form I-9 audits, exposing more employers to fines and penalties for Form I-9 violations. As a result, it’s important that employers understand the basics of a Form I-9 audit and how to properly prepare for a government audit.
Our Compliance Overview provides employers with a broad overview of Form I-9 audits to help them comply with legal requirements and reduce the risk of costly civil and criminal penalties: Best Practices to Prepare for Form I-9 Audits.
