ICE Extends Flexibility In I-9 Compliance Requirements In Response To COVID-19

The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has extended the flexibilities in its Form I-9 compliance requirements as a result of the continuing COVID-19 crisis. Previously, ICE had announced an interim policy under which employers who are operating remotely could defer the physical inspection of identity and employment authorization documents when completing Form I-9. This policy was set to expire on May 19, 2020, and has now been extended an additional 30 days, until June 18, 2020.

Specifically, the interim I-9 policy allows employers who are operating remotely to initially review an employee's identity and employment authorization documents remotely (for example, over video link, fax, or e-mail), rather than in person as the I-9 rules require. Upon the expiration of this policy ends, employees who were onboarded using remote verification must report in person to their employer within three business days for in-person verification of their identity and