I-9 Audits: Strengthening Your Immigration Compliance Strategies in 2026

Could your organization withstand an I-9 inspection, or would it face costly fines? The Immigration Reform and Control Act (IRCA) of 1986 aimed to legalize roughly three million undocumented immigrants and discourage future unauthorized immigration. Since then, U.S. employers have had to complete Form I-9 for every worker hired after November 6, 1986, and knowingly hiring someone without U.S. work authorization breaks federal law.

Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, is the employer's record of how it confirmed each worker's eligibility. Employers retain the forms and must make them available to inspectors from the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Labor and the Office of Special Counsel for Immigration-Related Unfair Employment Practices.

This 90-minute I-9 audit webinar covers the current form, the end of COVID-era virtual document review, and how to prepare for a likely surge in ICE audits.

• Explain what Form I-9 is, who must comply and the responsibilities of employers and employees
• Verify documents correctly, including for remote workers, now that virtual inspection has ended
• Identify common I-9 errors and correct errors and omissions properly
• Apply Form I-9 retention rules and the exceptions for completing and retaining forms
• Run internal I-9 self-audits and respond to ICE inspection notices
• Describe violation levels and the consequences of non-compliance
• Distinguish I-9 from E-Verify and follow E-Verify rules, state laws and self-audit steps

Form I-9 basics and recent changes

• Changes to the current Form I-9
• The temporary final rule that lengthens the automatic extension period for employment authorization and Employment Authorization Documents
• What happens now that virtual inspection of I-9 documents has ended
• What Form I-9 is and who must comply
• Verifying documents for remote workers
• Exceptions for completing and retaining Forms I-9
• Employer and employee responsibilities when completing the form

Errors, retention and audits

• Common Form I-9 errors
• Procedures for correcting errors and omissions
• Form I-9 retention rules
• Internal and external I-9 audits
• Levels of violations
• Self-audits
• Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) audits
• Inspection notices
• Consequences of non-compliance

E-Verify

• How the E-Verify system works
• Key differences between I-9 and E-Verify
• E-Verify rules and procedures
• States with current E-Verify laws
• Key steps in an E-Verify self-audit

Completing, storing and properly disposing of I-9s is demanding, and with the current focus on immigration enforcement, the chance of an audit is higher than ever. More employers now run proactive self-audits and use E-Verify, the web-based system for confirming work eligibility electronically.

This session helps HR, compliance, recruiting and operations professionals, leaders and managers understand proper documentation, recordkeeping, self-audit methods and E-Verify, and learn how to survive an external audit without heavy fines or ICE enforcement actions.

• Senior Leadership
• Human Resources Directors, Managers & Representatives
• Operations Professionals
• Compliance Professionals
• Recruiting Professionals
• Managers & Supervisors
• Employees

Diane L. Dee, President and Founder of Advantage HR Consulting, LLC is a senior Human Resources professional with over 25 years of experience in the HR arena. Diane’s background includes experience in HR consulting, training, and administration in corporate, government, consulting, and pro bono environments.

Diane founded Advantage HR Consulting in early 2016. Under Diane’s leadership, Advantage HR Consulting provides comprehensive, cost-effective Human Resources solutions for small to mid-sized public and private firms in the greater Chicagoland area.  Diane also develops and conducts webinars on a wide variety of HR compliance and administrative topics for various training firms across the country.   Additionally, Diane is the author of multiple white papers addressing various HR compliance topics.

Diane holds a Master's Certificate in Human Resources from Cornell University’s School of Industrial and Labor Relations and has attained SPHR and SHRM-SCP certifications. Diane is a member of the National Association of Women Business Owners and the Society for Human Resource Management. Additionally, Diane performs pro bono work through the Taproot Foundation assisting non-profit clients by integrating their Human Resources goals with their corporate strategies.