Streamline Your Form I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification With Checkr
Expedite and consolidate your hiring and onboarding workflows by streamlining Form I-9 verification with Checkr.
Legal compliance is one of many hiring challenges HR teams face—and Form I-9, which is required by federal law for W-2 employees in the United States, can be a time-consuming process that can delay employee onboarding. The I-9 verification process confirms that a W-2 employee is legally authorized to work in the US. Employers may also be required or choose to use the federal E-Verify system to electronically confirm the employee’s information.
Completing and verifying I-9s can be tedious, especially for employers that rely on manual systems and paper processes. But failing to comply with the law can expose employers to civil and criminal penalties, with fines ranging from $250 to $2,500 per employee.
Checkr’s new I-9 solution is designed to make your onboarding process more efficient by streamlining the I-9 process. We’ve partnered with Tracker I-9 to integrate I-9 verification, including E-Verify submissions, into the Checkr Dashboard so you can manage the entire process from one convenient location.
“As we expand our reach beyond background checks, we’re investing in supporting companies in the future of work,” says Denise Hemke, Chief Product Officer. “We’re excited to introduce the availability of I-9 and E-Verify to better support your full hiring workflow and continue to build automated tools and systems to improve your onboarding experience.”
Checkr solves your most common I-9 challenges
I-9 verification has historically been a multi-step, manual process that can stall onboarding for hiring managers and new employees. After employees fill out the first section of an I-9 and provide documentation of their status, such as a US passport, driver’s license, Permanent Resident card, Employment Authorization Documentation card, or Social Security card, employers must compare the documentation against the information on the form and may be required or choose to submit it to E-Verify.
Managing this process in-house is time-consuming and prone to human error. Something as simple as a blank check box, missing signature, or incomplete information could delay your employment eligibility check and your new hire.
What’s more, the I-9 process is highly regulated and subject to compliance challenges. For example, the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency (ICE) can request copies of your I-9s with just three days’ notice. Failure to comply with federal (and, in some cases, state) I-9 requirements could leave your company open to fines, legal action, and reputational damage.
Using a standalone third-party vendor can mitigate some of the compliance risk, but it’s far from an ideal solution. A solution not integrated with your HRIS still requires HR teams to juggle multiple workflows and processes, reducing their efficiency.
Checkr’s digital I-9 eligibility verification simplifies your onboarding process by integrating your background check and I-9 workflows into a single dashboard. If you’re currently managing your I-9 process in-house or using a standalone third-party solution, consider how consolidating those workflows into one digital space could make your team more efficient and improve the candidate experience.
- Security and compliance: Checkr’s partner Tracker I-9 is an industry leader in I-9 knowledge and compliance, backed by a perfect 20+ year track record of zero client fines. If USCIS audits your I-9 documents, Tracker I-9 provides guidance and support throughout the process.
- Greater accuracy: Personal identifiable information (PII) provided to Checkr can be directly imported into your I-9s, improving form accuracy and reducing redundant workstreams.
- Streamlined process: Consolidating background check and I-9 services into one dashboard means simplified, self-service I-9 ordering through a single source.
- Ease of use: Save time by ordering an E-Verify check through Checkr, rather than juggling multiple systems and manual requests.
- Simple billing: There’s no need for separate billing or agreements with an I-9 vendor when I-9 services are integrated into your Checkr account.
- Faster workflow: You can set up E-Verify to automatically submit I-9s as soon as Section 2 is completed. Ensure the employee matches the documents provided without the need for manual steps.
Expedite I-9 completion
I-9s are required for all W-2 employees, both full- and part-time. It’s not required for contractors, volunteers, or anyone who does not complete a W-2 form. Employees who were hired before November 6, 1986, are also exempt from completing an I-9.
In cases where an I-9 is required, time is of the essence. Employees must fill out Section 1 by the end of their first day of work. Employers must fill out Section 2 within three business days after that.
| Employee responsibilities | Employer responsibilities |
|---|---|
| 1. Fill out Section 1 truthfully and completely. 2. Provide current documentation proving their identity and legal authorization to work in the US. | 1. Provide employees with instructions for completing their I-9. 2. Physically check employee’s documents and fill out I-9 Section 2 with information such as each document’s title, the authority that issued it, the document number, and any expiration date. 3. If applicable: Submit information gathered on an I-9 to E-Verify. |
Checkr’s new I-9 solution helps keep things moving quickly. As soon as a background check is completed and an offer has been accepted, employers can order I-9s for the employee from the Checkr Dashboard. You may also automate an E-Verify check to be submitted as soon as Section 2 is completed.
Our I-9 solution helps you ensure everyone understands and completes their portion of I-9. The employee and your team will receive automated messages when an action needs to be taken on the form, and when verification is complete.
Checkr makes employee eligibility verification easy
I-9s are a necessary part of most employers’ hiring process. Now, Checkr offers an automated and efficient solution to expedite and consolidate your hiring and onboarding workflows. You’ll save time with a single, self-service vendor interface, plus automated solutions that reduce manual labor.
You can also feel confident you’re improving accuracy and enhancing compliance through our integration with Tracker I-9, a trusted industry leader for I-9 verification. Whether you’re hiring at scale or a few employees a year, managing your I-9 and E-Verify responsibilities through the Checkr platform reduces overhead lift for your hiring teams and helps you mitigate risk.
How to get started with Checkr for Form I-9
Already a Checkr customer? Access to Checkr’s I-9 solution is rolling out in August 2023 to all Dashboard customers.
Please note that I-9 verification may currently only be ordered as a separate add-on to a background check. If you did not order a background check for an employee through Checkr, you may not order I-9 verification for that employee at this time. We look forward to offering expanded I-9 solutions in late 2023 or early 2024.
Not a customer yet? Get started today.
Disclaimer
Nothing in Checkr’s Blog should be construed as legal advice, guidance, or counsel. Companies should consult their own legal counsel about their compliance responsibilities under all applicable federal, state, and local laws. Checkr expressly disclaims any warranties or responsibility or damages associated with or arising out of information provided.