On March 31, 2021, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is extending once again the current I-9 compliance flexibility requirements in place, for another sixty (60) days due to the continued COVID-19 precautions. The new expiration date for these I-9 compliance accommodations is now set to May 31, 2021.
The current extension includes guidance for employees hired on or after April 1, 2021, and work exclusively in a remote setting due to COVID-19-related precautions. Those employees are temporarily exempt from the physical inspection requirements associated with the Employment Eligibility Verification (Form I-9) until they undertake 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.
The original DHS guidance on I-9 compliance flexibility requirements was announced back on March 20, 2020.
