search
cart
facebook twitter linkedin youtube instagram Spotify Podcasts Apple Podcasts Spotify Podcasts Apple Podcasts
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
  • NEWS
  • TOPICS
    • Cool Roofing
    • Event News
    • Latinos in Roofing
    • Low Slope
    • Legal
    • Metal
    • Project Profiles
    • Roofing Supply Pro
    • Roofing Safety
    • Steep Slope
    • Sustainable Roofing
    • Technology
  • EXCLUSIVES
    • Best of Success
    • Contractor Profile
    • IRE Show
    • Roofing Contractor of the Year
    • Top 100
    • Young Guns
    • State of the Industry
    • Century Club
  • MULTIMEDIA
    • Videos
    • Podcasts
    • Interactive Spotlights
    • Roofing Quizzes
    • IRE Videos
    • Webinars
    • Photo Galleries
  • PRODUCTS
    • New Products
    • Featured Products
  • COLUMNS
    • Editor's Note
    • Exit Planning
    • Legally Speaking
    • Safety Advice
    • Technical Details
    • Guest Column
  • EVENTS
    • International Roofing Expo
    • Webinars
    • Best of Success Conference
    • Industry Events
  • DIRECTORY
    • Associations
    • Distributors
    • Manufacturer/Supplier
    • Business Services
    • Get Listed
  • MORE
    • Roofing Contractor eNews
    • RC Store
    • Roofing Supply Pro
    • Custom Content & Marketing Services
    • Market Research
    • Sponsor Insights
    • Company Spotlights
    • Classifieds
      • Auctions
      • Business For Sale
      • Business Opportunities
      • Equipment For Sale
      • Positions Available
      • Products
      • Safety
      • Software
      • Services
      • Training
    • Contact Us
  • EMAGAZINE
    • eMagazine
    • Advertise
      • Media Kit
      • Editorial Calendar
      • Contact
    • Archive Issues
  • SIGN UP!
Guest Column

Legal News

I-9 COVID Flexibility Ends July 31

The expiration date will require roofing contractors to review and update their I-9 Employment Eligibility Confirmation forms.

By James G. Aldrich
I-9 form
June 19, 2023

In a move that will require roofing contractors and other employers to review, and in many cases update, their I-9 Employment Eligibility Confirmation forms, the Dept. of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced recently its COVID-19 -related flexibilities for completing forms expires July 31. That means employers will then have 30 days to comply with all physical inspection requirements for employees who were hired remotely during the pandemic. 

On March 20, 2020 -- at the beginning of the pandemic lockdowns -- the USCIS announced employers could verify the employment eligibility of new hires who would be working remotely by examining copies of their documents. Employers could confirm their identity and ability to work in the U.S. and defer the actual, physical inspection of the originals until the company’s normal operations resumed.  

This policy was extended on March 31, 2021, with the additional guidance that:

As of April 1, 2021, required that employers inspect employees’ Form I-9 identity and employment eligibility documentation in-person, but only to those employees who physically report to work at a company location on any regular, consistent, or predictable basis.

If employees hired on or after April 21, 2021, work exclusively in a remote setting due to COVID-19-related precautions, they are temporarily exempt from the physical inspection requirements associated with the Employment Eligibility Verification (Form I-9).

Significantly, this did not apply to employees who would be working regularly at the employer’s normal business premises. Their employers have continually been required to conduct actual, physical inspections of their original documents.

This flexibility was renewed twice more, on April 25, 2022, and Oct. 11, 2022, with this second extending it until this July.

With President Biden signing legislation ending the national COVID emergency on April 10, 2023, Homeland Security has announced these I-9 flexibilities will not be extended and will instead expire on July 31, 2023.  After that, employers will have 30 days to comply with all physical inspection requirements.

This will now return the I-9 onboarding process to pre-COVID procedures in which employers must examine the original documents of their new hires, regardless of whether they will be working on-site or remotely.

In addition, employers have until Aug. 30, 2023, to review the original documents of those remote employees who were hired during the pandemic and update their I-9s by noting “documents physically examined” with the date they were reviewed in Section 2 of the I-9, or in Section 3, as appropriate for each specific employee.

Penalties for I-9 violations can be significant. Employers should make sure theirs have been properly completed and maintained.

KEYWORDS: commercial roofing contractor COVID-19 employee relations I-9 Employment Eligibility immigration legal issues in AEC legislation Residential Roofing Contractor workforce

Share This Story

Looking for a reprint of this article?
From high-res PDFs to custom plaques, order your copy today!

Aldrich
James Aldrich is an attorney with Dykema Gossett PLLC. He’s a frequent writer and presenter on immigration topics. He focuses on the corporate aspects of U.S. immigration law, including transferring foreign workers and counseling employers on immigration-related issues.

Recommended Content

JOIN TODAY
to unlock your recommendations.

Already have an account? Sign In

  • Roofing Contractor Group Publisher Jill Bloom

    Physics, the Power of Authenticity and You

    In February's Publisher's Note, Jill Bloom describes a...
    Columns
    By: Jill Bloom
  • The Family Food Fare supermarket in Midland, Mich.

    ‘Rooftop Ninja’ Discovered Living on Roof, Inside Grocery Sign

    A bizarre tale out of Midland, Mich.: a woman dubbed the...
    Roofing News
    By: Bryan Gottlieb
  • A before and after heat measurement comparison

    How Hot is Too Hot in the Attic?

    If the ventilation is working, how hot should the attic...
    Columns
    By: Paul Scelsi
You must login or register in order to post a comment.

Report Abusive Comment

Manage My Account
  • eMagazine Subscription
  • Sign Up for the eNewsletter
  • Online Registration
  • Manage My Preferences
  • Subscription Customer Service

More Videos

Sponsored Content

Sponsored Content is a special paid section where industry companies provide high quality, objective, non-commercial content around topics of interest to the Roofing Contractor audience. All Sponsored Content is supplied by the advertising company and any opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and not necessarily reflect the views of Roofing Contractor or its parent company, BNP Media. Interested in participating in our Sponsored Content section? Contact your local rep!

close
  • An overhead view of a residential block
    Sponsored byCBIZ CompuData

    From Spreadsheets to Strategy: How Roofing Companies Can Transform Financial Operations

  • Snow Guard Solutions for Metal Roofs by S-5!
    Sponsored byS-5!

    Safeguard Your Building: How Snow Guards Prevent Costly Roof & Property Damage

  • A hand holding a wooden block that reads 'EVOLVE'
    Sponsored byWatercress Financial

    Embracing Change: A New Era for the Roofing Industry

Popular Stories

Florida has become the focal point for construction-site raids, attracting national attention and altering labor dynamics throughout the industry.

Florida Emerges as the Epicenter of ICE Raids

Agentes de ICE arrestaron a casi una docena de empleados de una empresa de techos en Lowell, Massachusetts. Los arrestos son parte de una redada federal más amplia contra la contratación no autorizada y las violaciones migratorias en Boston.

ICE Redondea a Equipo de Techos Afuera de Boston

Kingspan’s planned 100-acre roofing campus in Oklahoma is under consideration as the new location for asphalt shingle production.

Kingspan Flirts with Disrupting the U.S. Shingle Market

Roofing Contractor Webinar

Events

December 3, 2025

The Premier Roofing Conference: Best of Success

Join roofing professionals from across the nation at the 2025 Best of Success conference, the ultimate destination for roofing professionals seeking the latest industry insights and networking opportunities. Pick up strategies for critical challenges like workforce shortage with innovative solutions, explore the latest advancements in roofing technology and sustainable practices, and gain valuable insights from industry leaders on navigating the evolving roofing landscape.

View All Submit An Event

Related Articles

  • I-9 form

    6 Steps to New I-9 Remote Verification

    See More
  • I-9 Employment Verification Forms

    Understanding the New I-9 Employment Verification Forms

    See More
  • I-9 form

    6 Changes To I-9 Forms Roofers Need to Know

    See More
×

Be in the forefront of the roofing industry!

Join thousands of professionals today. Shouldn’t you know what they know?

JOIN NOW!
  • RESOURCES
    • Advertise
    • Contact Us
    • Directories
    • Store
    • Want More
  • SIGN UP TODAY
    • Create Account
    • eMagazine
    • eNewsletter
    • Customer Service
    • Manage Preferences
  • SERVICES
    • Marketing Services
    • Reprints
    • Market Research
    • List Rental
    • Survey/Respondent Access
  • STAY CONNECTED
    • LinkedIn
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • YouTube
    • X
  • PRIVACY
    • PRIVACY POLICY
    • TERMS & CONDITIONS
    • DO NOT SELL MY PERSONAL INFORMATION
    • PRIVACY REQUEST
    • ACCESSIBILITY

Copyright ©2025. All Rights Reserved BNP Media.

Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing