How to Conduct an Internal Form I-9 Audit

Author: Brightmine Editorial Team

The Immigration Reform and Control Act (IRCA) requires an employer to verify the identity of its employees and their authorization to work in the United States. To accomplish this, both the employer and employee are required to complete Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification.

While the steps for filling out the Form I-9 seem relatively straightforward, there are numerous compliance pitfalls an HR professional faces when completing, maintaining and retaining this critical paperwork. To reduce the risk of penalties in the event of a US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) I-9 audit, an employer should consider conducting regular, voluntary internal audits to identify and correct existing errors.

Follow these steps to structure and implement an internal Form I-9 audit using a consistent, strategic and risk-averse approach. (Please note that this resource does not cover E-Verify audits.)