The Higher Ed Workplace Blog

DHS Extends Form I-9 Flexibilities Guidance Through 2021

Yesterday, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced a further extension of the flexibilities on Form I-9 compliance requirements that was initially granted last year. The guidance, which was slated to expire on August 31, 2021, has been extended through December 31, 2021.

The guidance will continue to allow for remote inspection of Form I-9 documents in situations where employees work exclusively in a remote setting due to COVID-19-related precautions. For employees who physically report to work at a company location on any regular, consistent or predictable, basis employers are required to use standard I-9 procedures.

On August 9, CUPA-HR and 12 other higher education associations sent a letter to United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Director Ur Jaddou asking for this additional extension in light of the changing landscape colleges and universities are facing as the Delta variant continues to circulate throughout the United States.

CUPA-HR will continue to engage DHS on this issue and ensure our members are informed of any other changes as they arise.