On Wednesday, December 15, 2021, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is extending the current I-9 compliance flexibility requirements in place, for another four (4) months, due to the continued COVID-19 precautions. The new expiration date for these I-9 compliance accommodations is now set to April 30, 2022.
This extension will continue to apply the guidance previously issued 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.
