Employment Authorization Docs Get Makeover
October 28th, 2011 § 3 Comments
That U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service form you’re holding?
It’s so last year.
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) has announced that redesigned Employment Authorization Documents are now being issued. The redesigned cards contain several security enhancing features, include a new holographic image, a laser-engraved tamper resistant photograph and a laser-engraved fingerprint.
For I-9 related purposes, the redesigned employment authorization cards are acceptable List A, Number 4 documents (Form I-766). Employers will also be happy to know that the card number on the redesigned card is listed on the front of the card. Employers should record the card number as the document number within List A on the I-9 Form.
USCIS simultaneously announced that redesigned Certificates of Citizenship are also being issued. Although the Certificates of Citizenship are now more secure, the certificates are still not acceptable to complete the I-9 Form. The Certificate of U.S. Citizenship was removed from the list of acceptable documents as of November 7, 2007.
USCIS anticipates that more than 1 million people will receive the new documents over the next year.
If you have any questions about these new documents, please email GoffWilson or call our office in Concord, NH: 603.228.1277 or 1.800.717.VISA.
John Wilson Talks Diversity at State HR Conference
October 27th, 2011 § Leave a Comment
On October 25, the HR State Council of New Hampshire held its annual State Council Leadership Conference at Northeast Delta Dental in Concord, NH. The conference was very well attended, with approximately 75 participants. GoffWilson partner John Wilson was in attendance and teamed with nationally recognized speaker and business coach Terry Traut to discuss diversity in the workplace.
Many engaging HR-related topics were covered by speakers and workshops, including strategic organization during the recession, a legal update covering labor issues, and diversity initiatives for higher education in NH. John Wilson and Terry Traut gave a talk about diversity concerns facing employers and human resources professionals, including flexible workplace, gender and sexual orientation, veterans returning to the workplace, and religion and spirituality. John is a member and diversity director of the NH HR State Council. The conference was a great, informative day and a perfect opportunity for networking amongst N.H.’s HR community. Thank you to the HR State Council and all the participants.
Did you miss out on this conference? Keep up with upcoming HR Council events by visiting the council’s Web site and stay tuned to the GoffWilson Blawg for more updates about human resources related events and conferences.
Workshop Tackles the Nuts and Bolts of Form I-9
October 19th, 2011 § Leave a Comment
On October 13, attorneys John Wilson and Grace Miller gave a lively presentation on Form I-9 and E-Verify to members of the River Valley Human Resources Association in Claremont, NH. We would like to thank all the participants for asking many great, engaging questions, and of course extend a big thank you to Claremont Savings Bank for hosting us in their conference room.
In addition to providing an in-depth look at each section of the I-9 Form and the Lists of Acceptable Documents, attorneys Wilson and Miller explained E-Verify, how it relates to the I-9 Form, and what obligations are created when employers enroll in the program. Participants left the workshop with a better understanding of the I-9 form and why it’s frequently called the most complicated one page form ever created!
Each participant received GoffWilson’s coveted I-9 Form Reference Workbook, which past participants have said they use every time a new person is hired. GoffWilson attorneys have carefully tailored this workbook to be a practical, step-by-step guide to completing the I-9 Form. The workbook also provides examples of correctly completed I-9 Forms, frequently asked questions, and examples that can help you spot I-9 errors before they become a legal headache.
We would like to extend a special thank you to the participants who asked us to stay longer to review additional examples and ask questions. If you were unable to attend this workshop and you are interested in Form I-9 related training, please stay tuned to GoffWilson’s I-9 Blawg. Additional presentations will be offered soon. They will be announced on our Blawg and our social media accounts, so be sure to bookmark us and follow us on Facebook and Twitter. If you are interested in hosting a workshop for your organization, please visit the I-9 training and seminars page on our website.
Thank you again to all of the participants for a great workshop!
Dollars and Sense: The Cost of I-9 Violations
October 12th, 2011 § 1 Comment
The Office of the Chief Administrative Hearing Officer (OCAHO), the agency responsible for presiding over cases involving I-9 related violations, fined Ketchikan Drywall Services Inc. $770 for each of the 225 separate violations discovered during an I-9 form audit. Even after weighing the five statutory factors that might have mitigated the fine, the administrative hearing officer found no compelling reason to lower the government’s initial calculation of the fine. The I-9 violations ended up costing Ketchikan Drywall a total of $173,250, which is on the higher end of the permissible range.
The government’s rigid I-9 standards and employers’ inability to negotiate and mitigate fine levels for I-9 related violations is a national trend. The lesson learned from this recent case is that employers must be compliant with every letter of the law before they come under investigation by Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Certain errors on the I-9 form can be corrected, but the forms must be properly corrected to mitigate damages. An internal I-9 audit can help catch and correct violations before they become a potentially very expensive problem.
For assistance with I-9 forms, I-9 related policies, and internal audits , as well as all questions relating to E-Verify, please contact GoffWilson.
Top 10 Signs You Need an I-9 Audit.
October 3rd, 2011 § 5 Comments
With apologies to David Lettermen, we humbly present our Top Ten List of…
How to know you need an I-9 audit.
- You do not know how to make corrections to an I-9 Form.
- You have multiple job sites and no centralized I-9 system in place.
- Your company has recently gone through or is about to commence a merger, acquisition or reorganization.
- None of the personnel responsible for managing your I-9 compliance program has received formal training in proper completion and retention requirements.
- You are copying suspicious looking I-9 documents presented by the employee while completing the I-9 Form, but not all.
- You have received Social Security “no match” letters.
- You do not have a written I-9 policy and procedures manual.
- You know you have I-9 errors and mistakes in your existing I-9 files.
- You are thinking of converting to an electronic I-9 system.
- The HR position has recently been filled by a new person who now has responsibility of managing I-9 Forms.
Don’t worry, we are here to help you through the maze of I-9 regulations and traps. Give us a call at 603.228.1277 or email GoffWilson and let us provide you with training, a compliance program and guidance. We are your I-9 Team.
