Permanent Virtual I-9 Verification For E-Verify Employers

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced a final rule, effective August 1, that allows employers to have an alternative procedure for remote I-9 employment verification. Also known as "permanent virtual verification," this alternative procedure allows employers who participate in E-Verify and are in good standing ("qualified employer") to have the option to conduct verification electronically with a live video call interaction.

Since the inception of the Form I-9 in 1986, the process of employment eligibility verification had relied on physical examination of documents in-person. Virtual verification was introduced as an exception during the COVID-19 pandemic and was set to expire on July 31. Under this new rule, virtual verification will be a permanent feature of I-9 verification process.