November 2, 2021
November 2, 2021
During the pandemic, as a reaction to corporate HR teams going largely remote, the US federal government announced it would temporarily restrict a decades-old requirement that employers must inspect new employee's I-9 eligibility forms in person. Prior to this, the requirement from US Citizenship and Immigration Services was strictly enforced - particularly under the Trump administration, which saw it as a way to curb illegal immigration.
This became challenging in 2020.
Related: ICE Extends Form I-9 Remote Review Through End of 2021
The ruling was embraced by employers. In July, the Society for Human Resource Management asked the federal government to make the ruling permanent.
On October 16, 2021, the agency announced that it was seeking comment from employers on the effectiveness of the policy and if it should be made permanent. The comment period is open until December 27, 2021.