The 2025 I-9 penalty structure includes three categories of violations with inflation-adjusted amounts. I-9 paperwork violations range from $288 to $2,861 per form for incomplete or incorrect Section 1, Section 2, or Section 3 entries, missing signatures, incorrect dates, or failure to retain completed forms for the required period. Knowing hire violations for employing unauthorized workers range from $716 to $28,619 per employee depending on repeat offense history and whether the violation was a first offense, second offense, or pattern of practice. Document fraud violations for accepting fraudulent documents, failing to properly examine identity documents, or requesting specific documents instead of allowing employee choice range from $590 to $11,823 per violation.

These penalties are adjusted annually for inflation per the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act and apply to all employers regardless of company size or industry. ICE can impose multiple violation types on a single employee's I-9 form—for example, a paperwork violation AND a knowing hire violation—resulting in combined penalties exceeding $31,000 for one employee. First-time offenders typically receive penalties at the lower end of the range, while employers with prior violations, patterns of non-compliance, or evidence of discriminatory practices face maximum penalties plus potential criminal prosecution.

Lake Mead Mobile Notary serves as an authorized representative for I-9 verification throughout Las Vegas, Henderson, and Clark County, providing compliant Section 2 completion services that reduce your exposure to these costly penalties. Our mobile notaries examine employee documents at your Las Vegas Medical District office, remote worker locations, or multi-site facilities, ensuring every I-9 form meets federal standards and withstands ICE audits.

No, employers cannot use outdated I-9 forms after March 31, 2025. The new Form I-9 version becomes mandatory on March 31, 2025, and using any previous version after this date results in automatic paperwork violations with penalties ranging from $288 to $2,861 per form regardless of whether the old form was otherwise completed correctly. USCIS issues updated I-9 forms periodically to add security features, clarify instructions, update acceptable document lists, and incorporate regulatory changes—and employers must transition to the new version by the enforcement date printed on the form itself.

The March 31, 2025 deadline applies to all new hires, rehires, and reverifications (Section 3 updates) processed on or after that date. Forms completed before March 31, 2025 using the previous version remain valid and do not need to be redone, but any I-9 completed on or after the deadline must use the updated form. Employers should immediately download the new I-9 from uscis.gov/i-9, update HR systems and onboarding software, train staff on any new fields or instructions, and dispose of old blank forms to prevent accidental use. During ICE audits, use of an outdated form is one of the most common violations and demonstrates lack of due diligence in maintaining compliant employment practices.

Lake Mead Mobile Notary provides authorized representative I-9 verification services using the current, compliant I-9 form version for businesses throughout Las Vegas Convention Center, Henderson corporate offices, and remote employee locations across Nevada. Our mobile notaries stay current with all USCIS form updates, examine documents in person per federal requirements, and complete Section 2 accurately to eliminate costly paperwork violations.

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.