{"id":11658,"date":"2026-01-27T08:59:51","date_gmt":"2026-01-27T13:59:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.brightmine.com\/us\/?post_type=resources&p=11658"},"modified":"2026-01-30T06:02:31","modified_gmt":"2026-01-30T11:02:31","slug":"immigration-compliance-hr-guidance","status":"publish","type":"resources","link":"https:\/\/www.brightmine.com\/us\/resources\/hr-compliance\/immigration\/immigration-compliance-hr-guidance\/","title":{"rendered":"Immigration compliance: what employers need to know"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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by Amanda Czepiel, JD<\/strong>, Brightmine US Country Manager<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Navigating employer immigration compliance has become increasingly complex as federal agencies continue to update Form I\u20119 requirements, verification procedures and enforcement practices. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Employers must follow strict rules set by Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Department of Labor (DOL)\u2014ensuring accurate I\u20119 completion, timely reverification, consistent onboarding processes and secure recordkeeping. At the same time, shifting state\u2011level mandates and evolving federal policies<\/a>, including recent Form I\u20119 revisions and updates to E\u2011Verify terminology<\/a>, require HR teams to stay alert and continuously adapt internal procedures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Key immigration compliance requirements for employers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Form I-9 completion and retention<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Employers must complete Form I-9 for every employee hired after November 6, 1986, within three business days of the employee\u2019s start date. This includes verifying identity and work authorization and ensuring documents match federal requirements. Forms must be\u00a0retained\u00a0securely and made available during I-9 inspections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tracking expiration dates<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Many employee documents \u2014 such as Employment Authorization Documents (EADs), temporary work visas and certain identity documents \u2014 have expiration dates. Employers must track these dates and complete timely reverification without discriminating based on citizenship status or national origin. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Consistent verification procedures<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Employers must follow the same verification process for every new hire, regardless of background. Applying inconsistent procedures may violate anti-discrimination laws enforced by the Department of Justice\u2019s Immigrant and Employee Rights (IER) Section. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Internal audits and recordkeeping<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Routine internal audits help HR teams identify errors, correct documentation and prepare for potential ICE Form I-9 audits and inspections. Proper record storage is essential to compliance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Recent updates to Form I-9 and E-Verify<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Form I-9 requirements continue to evolve, and HR teams must keep pace with new editions and instructions. A recent update introduced a revised Form I-9 with an edition date of 01\/20\/25 and an expiration date of 05\/31\/2027. While certain previous editions currently remain valid, employers should integrate the updated form into their onboarding and verification workflows as soon as possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The latest changes include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n