outsolve insights

HR teams know all too well that compliance is a constant and critical part of daily work.  Ensuring accuracy is essential to avoiding both financial and reputational penalties and damage. In 2025, few documents make the case more compelling than Form I-9—a legally required task in every new hire packet since 1986, and a clear reminder of the importance of compliance. Whether you’ve completed hundreds of Form I-9s or are just getting started, you understand the importance of properly verifying a new employee’s identity and employment eligibility. 

Hiring a new employee should generate momentum, not a compliance minefield. But for many employers, the I-9 process creates legal risk, especially when hiring remotely. An overlooked signature or incomplete form can turn employee verification and onboarding into a liability. Meanwhile, increased federal enforcement under the Trump administration is raising the cost even for minor errors. All of this highlights the importance of a standardized, compliant onboarding process where I-9s are done right the first time, no matter where or how you hire. 

If you’ve worked in Human Resources long enough, then chances are you’ve had at least one moment of panic over Form I-9! Whether it was an incomplete form, a mismatched document number, or a reverification oversight, I-9 errors are surprisingly common, but potentially costly.  

As part of the hiring process, HR understands how critical it is to confirm that every new employee is legally authorized to work in the U.S. Most of us are familiar with Form I-9, the official document that every new hire is required to complete. But are you also aware of a tool where you can double-check eligibility in real time and avoid potential compliance issues down the road? Well, you can. That’s where E-Verify comes in. 

This article is part of an ongoing legal series designed to provide insight and practical guidance on current and emerging workplace compliance issues. These insights shared by lawyers are based on their interpretation of existing regulations and proposed changes, and intended for informational purposes, not to be regarded as legal advice.

Employers must verify that every employee they hire has the legal right to work in the U.S. based on U.S. immigration law. With the 2025 presidential administration change, the new Trump administration has declared enforcement of this requirement to be a priority and directed executive agencies to implement changes reflecting that prioritization. 

This article is part of an ongoing legal series designed to provide insight and practical guidance on current and emerging workplace compliance issues. These insights shared by lawyers are based on their interpretation of existing regulations and proposed changes, and intended for informational purposes, not to be regarded as legal advice.

I-9 Audits: If you work in HR, the threat of a Form I-9 audit is a real concern—but it’s also an opportunity to take control. With the current administration intensifying immigration enforcement, now is the time to strengthen your I-9 processes, close compliance gaps, and ensure your documentation is audit-ready. 

Are you still completing your Form I-9s on paper, manually? Do you have a lack of visibility into the status of new hires’ Form I-9s? Do you have a remote or hybrid workforce? 

Flawed I-9 documents can compromise years of otherwise sound compliance efforts, opening the door to legal exposure and financial penalties. Federal enforcement is intensifying under the Trump administration with recent anti-DEI executive orders and evolving immigration policies. Employers are under increasing pressure to validate identity and work eligibility with precision and consistency. Even a single misstep can result in costly fines, reputational harm, or a full-scale audit. 

You’ve finally settled on the right candidate for your position. Next comes the paperwork and new hire onboarding documents that must be completed. One of the most important, and sometimes overlooked steps of the onboarding process, is ensuring your new employee is eligible to work in the U.S. by having them complete a Form I-9, which is a legal requirement for all employers.