When it comes to employment eligibility verification, few documents are as critical and error prone as the Form I-9. HR juggles compliance, onboarding, and documentation every day, but one misstep with Form I-9 can lead to significant consequences in 2025. This is especially true when it involves what's known as a substantive error. 

The anxiety of an I-9 audit by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) can cause business owners and HR professionals sleepless nights, especially as the current administration intensifies its focus on immigration reform. These audits ensure that employers are complying with the Immigration Reform and Control Act (IRCA) by verifying the identity and employment eligibility of their employees. It involves checking the Employment Eligibility Verification forms (Form I-9) to confirm that all employees are legally authorized to work in the United States and that a Form I-9 is on file for all employees hired after Nov. 6, 1986.