Conducting an I-9 Audit

Conducting an I-9 Audit

When companies establish and maintain effective Form I-9 compliance policies, employers can prevent potential liability and exorbitant fines as well as mitigate many potential violations. Employers should implement effective I-9 procedures that result in accurate, consistent and uniform preparation, maintenance and, ultimately, disposal of the forms.

When was the last time you conducted an I-9 Forms audit? Here are some guidelines to assist you and a complete checklist for the process can be found at www.hrstrategies.org :

• Employers must have an I-9 on file for every active employee hired after November 6, 1986.
• Employers must have an I-9 on file for terminated employees for three years following date of hire or one year following date of termination—whichever is later.
• The current version of the I-9 form as of the date of hire or reverification must be used.

Items Needed for Audit:

• List of current employees hired since November 6, 1986.
• List of employees terminated in the past three years.
• Original or electronic copies of all I-9 forms (both current employee forms, as well as forms for terminated employees within current retention requirements).
• Handbook for Employers M-274 published by the USCIS (optional)
• Current version of Form I-9
• Audit Log
• I-9 Audit How-to Guide

Tags

• I-9 Audit
• I-9 procedures