How can an employer complete an I-9 for an employee who doesn’t physically come to the employer’s location?

It’s not unusual for employers to hire individuals who don’t physically come the employer’s location to complete paperwork, so an employer may designate an agent to carry out I-9 responsibilities. Agents may include accountants, attorneys, personnel officers, notaries public, foremen, and so on. Though employers may designate anyone they trust to act as such an agent, the decision should be made carefully since the employer will be held responsible for the actions of that agent.

It is not acceptable to carry out I-9 responsibilities via fax or mail. The employer or an agent of the employer must personally review original documentation. An employer in E-Verify can use an alternate procedure to review employment verification documents. To use the alternative procedure, an employer must be a participant in good standing in E-Verify.