As a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, remote Inspection of Form I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification has been extended yet again, this time until July 31, 2023. Form I-9 is used to verify the identity and employment authorization of individuals hired to work in the United States. This form must be completed by all U.S. employers and must be done for U.S. citizens as well as noncitizens.
Beginning March 20, 2020 DHS announced that the review of Form I-9 Section 2 documents would be suspended for remote workers. As such, employers are not required to review Section 2 documents in the employee’s physical presence. Inspection is permitted remotely (zoom, fax, email, etc.). Once the workplace reopens, employers are required to physically inspect said documents. As a result of the prolonged pandemic, this flexibility has been extended numerous times and is currently in effect until April 30, 2022.
Although in person Form I-9 inspection of Section 2 documents has been extended again, employers should begin to think about what a return to workplace employment eligibility verification process will mean for Form I-9 compliance.
Wildes & Weinberg was founded in 1960 by Senior Partner, Leon Wildes. Nearly three quarters of a century later, the firm continues to concentrate its practice in all aspects of U.S. immigration and nationality law, servicing the immigration requirements of prominent American and International firms, banks, industrial, financial, and manufacturing concerns, as well as law firms in connection with the personnel needs of their foreign national employees.
In addition, the firm has a distinguished clientele and has done substantial immigration work for performing artists, directors, writers, models, actors/actresses, athletes, fine artists, art dealers, curators, and literary agents. Most notable was Leon Wildes’ successful representation of former Beatle John Lennon and his artist wife, Yoko Ono in their deportation proceedings, the basis of which has inspired legislation, and has been portrayed in films, plays, and literary works worldwide. Some of the firm’s other distinguished clients include scholar Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks (z”l), as well as soccer icon Pele, Master Chef Jean-Georges and Former First Lady Melania Trump and her family.
Michael Wildes, the firm’s Managing Partner, is also currently serving his fourth term as Mayor of Englewood, New Jersey, is the author of Safe Haven in America: Battles to Open the Golden Door (which draws on over a quarter of a century of his practice in the immigration field), is an Adjunct Professor at the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law in New York, and serves as Counsel to Lincoln Center and several international/corporate law firms.
Despite difficulties currently being encountered in dealing with U.S. immigration authorities, the firm has maintained an extraordinary track record for success in its cases. The firm’s litigation group has expanded its efforts in filing Mandamus Actions and other Actions in Federal Courts throughout the nation.
In addition, Wildes & Weinberg’s multilingual staff is spread throughout its offices in New York City, Englewood, New Jersey, Miami, Florida, and by appointment only in Los Angeles, California and Tel Aviv, Israel, and are known for their experience and special expertise in processing each foreign national’s case with nothing less than the highest level of professionalism.
For more information on our firm please visit www.wildeslaw.com or contact Michael Wildes at michael@wildeslaw.com.
