Is remote I-9 verification still allowed in 2025?

Yes, remote I-9 verification remains allowed through December 31, 2025, under the Department of Homeland Security's extended flexible verification policy implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic and continuously renewed for employers with fully remote workforces or employees working exclusively outside traditional office settings. However, employers must still conduct physical document inspection either within 3 business days of the employee's first day of work or when normal in-person operations resume, whichever occurs first. The remote alternative procedure permits employers to inspect employee identity and employment authorization documents via live video conference using tools like Zoom, Microsoft Teams, or similar platforms, but this is a temporary accommodation, not a permanent replacement for in-person verification.

The extension applies only to employers who operate entirely remotely or whose employees work at locations where no authorized representative can physically meet them within the required 3-day window. Employers using remote verification must retain documentation of the video conference, screenshots of documents examined, and detailed notes explaining why physical inspection was not possible during the initial verification period. When in-person operations resume or when the employee works at a location where physical document inspection becomes feasible, employers must conduct the physical examination and add a notation to Section 2 documenting the date of physical inspection. Failure to complete the physical follow-up inspection triggers the same penalties as incomplete I-9 forms—$288 to $2,861 per violation.

Lake Mead Mobile Notary provides authorized representative I-9 verification services that eliminate remote verification compliance risks by conducting in-person document examinations at employee locations throughout Henderson, Las Vegas, North Las Vegas, and Boulder City. Our mobile notaries travel to remote worker home offices, co-working spaces, or any convenient location, completing Section 2 verification with proper physical document inspection that satisfies all DHS requirements without relying on temporary remote alternatives. This service is especially valuable for companies with distributed workforces who want compliant, audit-ready I-9 forms without the administrative burden of managing remote verification protocols and subsequent physical inspection requirements.