In a new round of work eligibility investigations, ICE has served 1,000 business in all 50 states Notices of Inspection.  A Notice of Inspection is an audit of a company’s Forms I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification Form.  The Notice of Inspection gives an employer 3 business days to produce Forms I-9 for all current employees and all terminated employees for the past 3 years.  It can also require payroll records, business licenses, and other additional documentation.

ICE has not released the names of the businesses/locations served, but said they range range in size from small businesses to national brand names.

A statement released by ICE said,

“The inspections will touch on employers of all sizes and in every state in the nation, with an emphasis on businesses related to critical infrastructure and key resources.”

Some such sectors could include banking, telecommunications and transportation, agriculture, dams, drinking water and water treatment, information technology, and others.

Fines resulting from Form I-9 inspections can range from thousands of dollars to millions of dollars.  Businesses suffer additional expense from attorney fees and lost productivity.  A company’s good reputation can also be destroyed due to negative media coverage.

If your company is served a Notice of Inspection, will you be able to turn over all required documentation to the Forensic Auditor within 3 business days?  Do you have a written compliance plan? Are you confident your business can “pass” a Forms I-9 audit?

Form I-9 Compliance is Like a Hand Grenade

Form I-9 hand grenadeProperly handled and stored, no one gets hurt. But…if mishandled and not taken care of, it can blow up in your face.

As federal authorities are putting more and more emphasis on Form I-9 compliance, employers are shouldering new and heavy burdens. Whether your company is small or large, you cannot afford to be inattentive to your I-9s.

One of the best pro-active steps you can take it to have an independent 3rd party audit conducted on your I-9 Forms prior to a Notice of Inspection being served.  Contact Allott Immigration Law Firm for an audit review of your Form I-9 systems and procedures.

Don’t let things blow up on you…

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