DHS Grants Additional Time For Full Form I-9 Compliance After Temporary Flexibility Procedures End And Provides Update On Future Remove Verification Rule

In a May 4, 2023, announcement, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) granted employers through August 30, 2023, to complete the physical document inspection required for Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, after relying on the COVID-19 temporary I-9 flexibility procedures. This is an extension of about thirty days from the previous deadline.

Termination of the COVID-19 Form I-9 Temporary Flexibility Procedures

To deter fraud, current I-9 rules require that employers meet in person with new hires (or existing employees if reverification is required) and physically inspect the documents presented for identity and employment eligibility verification. COVID-19 made such in-person meetings difficult. DHS responded in March 2020 by implementing the I-9 temporary flexibility procedures to defer the physical inspection of documents. These procedures allowed qualifying employers to review I-9 documents virtually and later complete the in-person