The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released a final rule Friday that will allow certain employers who use E-Verify to continue verifying employees’ I-9 documents remotely, making permanent a flexibility implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic.  

The new rule will go into effect August 1, 2023 and will only apply to workers hired after the regulation’s effective date. Under the new rule, employers must use E-Verify to compare what’s on an employee’s I-9 form to records DHS has on file. Employers will need to keep “clear and legible copies” of every document received from the employees related to the I-9 employment eligibility verification form in case DHS were to decide to conduct an audit. This includes social security cards, passports, driver’s licenses or permanent resident cards.

Employers using the alternative method will also need to conduct video interviews with employees as part of the document verification process. Additionally, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced Friday that it’s rolling out an updated I-9 form, which will include a box employers will need to check if using the alternative verification method. USCIS said the form was streamlined to “reduce employer and employee burden associated with the form.” It can now be downloaded and filled out on mobile devices more easily, according to USCIS.

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