Atlanta, Georgia – Clear I-9, a leading provider of Form I-9 compliance, is proud to announce multiple cost-effective options for compliant remote I-9s. For less than $10 an I-9, employers can meet the new compliance requirements and avoid expensive fines.

With the recent announcement from the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) regarding the end of Form I-9 virtual remote inspection, Clear I-9 helps businesses navigate the changing landscape of I-9 compliance without sacrificing the ease of remote I-9s. In response to the challenges faced by employers during the COVID-19 pandemic, ICE had previously introduced flexibilities that allowed for remote inspections of Form I-9 documents.

However, with the expiration of these temporary COVID-19 flexibilities on July 31, 2023, employers are required to comply with physical Form I-9 document inspection requirements by August 30, 2023. Clear I-9 understands the importance of streamlining the compliance process for employers and offers a cost-effective solution.

With Clear I-9's Remote Compliance, businesses can achieve compliance quickly and efficiently at a fraction of the cost.  By leveraging Clear I-9's expertise and user-friendly platform, employers can ensure that all I-9 forms are completed accurately and securely, reducing the risk of errors or omissions.

"Our goal at Clear I-9 is to simplify the I-9 compliance process for employers of all sizes," said Melissa Prentice, President at Clear I-9. "We recognize the challenges posed by the recent changes in Form I-9 requirements, and for under $10 per I-9 employers can compliantly update historical remote I-9’s and complete new remote I-9s, providing an efficient solution to help businesses meet the new compliance standards."

Clear I-9's comprehensive platform offers features such as automatic error-checking and alerts, enabling employers to identify and correct any discrepancies or mistakes in real-time. By utilizing Clear I-9's electronic I-9 system, employers can easily manage their I-9 forms, ensuring ongoing compliance with federal regulations.

As the deadline for compliance approaches, Clear I-9 invites employers to schedule a call to learn more about how their services can simplify the I-9 compliance process. By choosing Clear I-9, businesses can save time, reduce costs, and mitigate the risk of fines associated with non-compliance.

What were the temporary COVID-19 flexibilities?

The I-9 form is a critical component of the hiring process for employers in the United States. It is used to verify the identity and employment eligibility of all new hires, as required by federal law. Employers are required to fill out the I-9 form within three days of hiring a new employee, and to keep the completed form on file for three years after the date of hire, or one year after the date of termination, whichever comes later.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, ICE relaxed the requirement for employers to have operational status and instead focused on employees, allowing remote inspections for those working from home due to COVID-19. ICE introduced a temporary policy allowing for the virtual inspection of I-9 documents in March 2020. 

In April 2021, ICE expanded the "in-person" exemption, giving companies flexibility as they phased back employees, so in-person inspections were not required for all new hires. ICE updated their instructions, replacing the phrase "once normal operations resume" with "until [the employee] undertakes non-remote employment on a regular, consistent, or predictable basis, or the extension of the flexibilities related to such requirements is terminated, whichever is earlier."

It's important to note that ICE's guidance never applied to permanent remote employees who were allowed to work from anywhere without returning to an in-person setting. However, many employers misinterpreted the applicability standards and allowed for remote inspections incorrectly. In this case, an authorized representative should update the I-9 with a physical inspection if an employee cannot appear at the worksite. If mistakes were made, companies must move forward and remediate as quickly and accurately as possible.

What Employers Need To Know:

Employers are now required to ensure that all I-9 forms are completed and maintained accurately, with no errors or omissions. Any mistakes or omissions must be corrected by the employer within 10 days of discovery. Failure to comply with these requirements can result in serious consequences, including financial penalties and legal liability.

• After July 31, you can no longer conduct virtual review of documents for the purpose of completing the I-9 Form
• All forms created during the exception period using this flexibility must be Revised with an in-person review no later than August 30, 2023.
• Clear I-9 help you in a cost effective manner and expedite the process
   

How Clear I-9 Can Help:

As you review your I-9 forms and process, ongoing compliance should be top-of-mind. Clear I-9 offers a secure, easy-to-use platform for employers to create, manage, and store I-9 forms, ensuring that all required information is captured accurately and stored securely. Electronic I-9 systems also offer features such as automatic error-checking and alerts, helping employers to quickly identify and correct any errors or omissions.We are proud to announce multiple cost-effective options for compliant remote I-9s. For less than $10 an I-9, employers can meet the new compliance requirements and avoid expensive fines.

For more information about Clear I-9 and their low-cost compliant remote I-9s, please visit cleari9.com or contact [email protected].