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V O L . X X I I I N O. X X V I O C T O B E R 3 0 , 2 0 1 7 16 F or employers and human resources professionals, the employment eligibility verifi cation process can be a daunting one. If unorganized, the pro- cess becomes all the more diffi cult. Because of the cumbersome nature of the process, it is good practice to undergo I-9 compliance audits at least twice a year. ese audits are especially important because they not only help employers remain in I-9 compliance, but also help pre- pare for I-9 audits carried out by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Immigration Customs and Enforcement (ICE) — and they can come knocking at any time. But what if you are unfamiliar with the process? ese helpful tips will help prepare you for an I-9 audit. Use the most recent version of Form I-9 On July 17, USCIS released a new version of Form I-9. As of Sept. 18, all employers must use the updated ver- sion of the I-9. You can download the new I-9 form at www.uscis.gov/i-9. Update your roster of employees Before the process begins, it is best to make sure that the roster of employees is up to date. Remember, all employees hired on or after Nov. 6, 1986, must have a completed I-9. During the audit process, I-9 forms will be matched up against the current roster of employees to check for any discrepancies. Don't toss old I-9 forms just yet Now that you've reviewed the roster, check and see if all documentation is accounted for. Remember, documen- tation for former employees is only needed for one year after separa- tion, so no need to clutter your fi les with unnecessary information. Most importantly, if it is discovered that an I-9 is not present for an employee, make best eff orts to obtain one as soon as possible. Fill out I-9 form properly In an I-9 audit, accuracy is key. Sections 1 and 2 will be reviewed for accuracy while Section 3 will be reviewed for accuracy only if changes have been made, such as employ- ment status, reverifi cation and rehires. Employers should be prepared to provide any necessary corrections to ensure compliance. Maintain valid I-9 documentation Documentation will most defi nitely be reviewed during the process. All documents — List A or List B and List C — will be checked for validity. It is extremely important to audit the process to provide authen- tic, valid documentation or else face fi nes and penalties. Obtain all necessary signatures Overlooking signatures is one of the most common mistakes made by both employees and employers when fi lling out the I-9 form. at's why it is crucial to carefully look over all three sections of the I-9 once it has been completed. Even simple record keeping mistakes and omissions can result in huge fi nes and issues, so make sure to give the forms one more look to ensure all signatures are obtained — just to be safe. While I-9 compliance may seem simple, it is full of hurdles that can cause serious issues for employers. Failure to be in compliance is break- ing the law and can result in severe fi nes and penalties. Remember, an ICE Notice of Inspection can come at any time and they will want I-9 documentation within three business days, so organization is essential. RUsseL L For D is a business immigration attorney and co-founder of FordMurray Law in Portland. He assists public and private employers, large and small, in developing eff ective immigration policies and strategies for personnel movement around the globe. He can be reached at rUsseLL @ ForDmUrraYLaw.com H OW TO B Y R U S S E L L F O R D Get prepared for an I-9 compliance audit CHAD WRIGHT - FRANCHISE DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR 502-255-2297 | REMEDYFRANCHISE.COM LEARN MORE ABOUT US! BIG NOW'S THE TIME TO MAKE YOUR MOVE. Put your business development skills to work for you. Take the next step forward in your career with a Remedy Intelligent Staffing franchise. Get your piece of the $147 billion staffing industry with the resources and support of a national leader. While I-9 compliance While I-9 compliance While I-9 compliance While I-9 compliance While I-9 compliance While I-9 compliance While I-9 compliance While I-9 compliance While I-9 compliance While I-9 compliance While I-9 compliance While I-9 compliance While I-9 compliance may seem simple, it may seem simple, it may seem simple, it may seem simple, it may seem simple, it may seem simple, it may seem simple, it may seem simple, it may seem simple, it may seem simple, it may seem simple, it may seem simple, it may seem simple, it is full of hurdles that can cause serious issues for em ployers.

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