4 ms·

Tell HN: I-9 Debacle Nationwide

So apparently, the DHS enacted special emegency concessions during the COVID-19 pandemic, which allowed employers to virtually/remotely verify identification documents and complete the I-9 form (verification of eligibility to work in the US). Unfortunately the DHS has revoked these temporary policies and is apparently requiring every employer to re-verify documentation that might have been virtually "verified" previously (so they're saying that it was never verified at all and the virtual attempts don't count.) https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-related-news/temporary-policies-related-to-covid-19 There are other alternative methods that may be used, actually, to virtually re-verify over a live video session: https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-related-news/new-e-verify-employers-may-use-alternative-procedure-for-form-i-9-documents-examined-remotely-during If this is widespread as it seems to be, it could place thousands of jobs in jeopardy. I don't understand why this is going down, and I'm dismayed by the way it's being handled.

rmk 3y ago
It's a consequence of illegal immigration, and people encouraging it. Physically presenting ID may be a countermeasure against fraud, so perhaps that's why they are bringing it back?
- NoZebra120vClip 3y ago
  The way I'm being asked to do it is absurd and onerous. My employer's outsourced this to a service. So far, so good. The service put the burden on the employees to get'er done, but that's not the whole of it. They're demanding that we identify a person--friend, family, neighbor--to act as "in-person verifier". In my unique situation, this is, perhaps uniquely, very difficult to do. I contacted an official Notary Public who refused. My church refused. So did my dentist. I connected with a coworker who offered to help, and flaked on Sunday, so now I'm waiting 'til Friday to hopefully possibly get'er done, but I'm becoming nervous and the employer is issuing veiled threats about jeopardizing our employment if we don't do this thing that's their responsibility in the first place. Also they've known about this whole thing since before May, but only sprung it on us a couple of weeks ago.
  - idontwantthis 3y ago
    Sorry, but how do you not know any person at all? I had to do this and it’s just an online form asking if they’ve seen your documentation.
    - NoZebra120vClip 3y ago
      "Just" -- well, this is the proposition: "Hi, you barely know me, but can I doxxx you to this website you don't know and then show you my ID so you're on the hook for a Federal verification thing?" It requires a modicum of trust on the part of the person I'm asking. Yes, I could slip $5 to a bum at the train station to do it, if I felt like giving him my phone. Perhaps I'm not creative enough to think of people. But yes, I really know that few people who are physically nearby. Basically, all of my friends and family are remote. I have an active social life but it's all online. I asked a Notary and they flat said no. Likewise with the offices I visit; I mean, that's just not their job, and it's a liability problem. My employer refused to provide a person to do this. It's the employer's obligation to get this done. They're absolutely passing the buck here, and way too far. Of course they won't be the one to get in trouble if this fails, they'll just fire us all.
      - idontwantthis 3y ago
        Instead of trying to entice your neighbor to commit a conspiracy, try asking to borrow a cup of sugar, but then ask them to fill out this website for you instead. You are making your own barriers here, for what reason I don’t know. This is a lot simpler than bringing your passport to the office, even if you work in the office.
        NoZebra120vClip 3y ago
        I don't care how simple it is, this is not my responsibility. I've been employed with the same employer for 3 years. They verified me on hire, 2 months after the lockdowns. The feds inexplicably want to erase all that work and redo it from scratch. It's their responsibility to verify me and complete this form. They used to have an office right down the street, and I know they still retain a sizable staff in my area. They should have no problem designating an employee to just go around and verify people. I didn't make these barriers, the buck-passing cost-cutting low-information folks did it for me. They told us we have 3 days from receipt to finalize this. They knew about this before May (May was when the deadline got a 30-day extension) and they're springing it on us with such urgency now! Well pardon me!
beckingz 3y ago
I had to go in to the office to have my passport verified after 4 months of employment... don't really see the point.
syndicatedjelly 3y ago
> If this is widespread as it seems to be, it could place thousands of jobs in jeopardy. I don't understand why this is going down, and I'm dismayed by the way it's being handled. I had a 2 minute meeting with HR to verify my passport. It was the least inconvenient thing I’ve ever done for the government. We’ll survive this.
- NoZebra120vClip 3y ago
  Nearest office is about 3000 miles away. This is specifically about remote workers who were virtually "verified" in the first place.
  - syndicatedjelly 3y ago
    > There are other alternative methods that may be used, actually, to virtually re-verify over a live video session: https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-related-news/new-e-verify-employers-may-use-alternative-procedure-for-form-i-9-documents-examined-remotely-during https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-related-news/new-...
dubaiclean777 3y ago
[flagged]
codethrower 3y ago
ive been working at a place for just about 2 years. Just needed to get my i-9 reverified. company told us to just find someone to show your documents to and they can verify it. They just had to log into the verification site, type in all of the numbers/info and say yup im someone different
- codethrower 3y ago
  ill add, they didnt care who verified it. as long as it was someone other than your self
  - Olphs 3y ago
    And how did they verify that it was someone other than yourself? Just a checkbox? Or like document upload or something? SSN?
    - codethrower 3y ago
      Just a check box and a all bolded paragraph with some scary lawyer text
NoZebra120vClip 3y ago
So I was finally able to get this done, and I really should have done it this way from Day One. My next-door neighbor quickly responded yes, and as soon as I knocked on his door we had the process underway and finished in 15 minutes. It was really the missed connections with my coworker that wasted all the time, because I was counting on her alone, and let her set the schedule, rather than just find someone who could immediately do the thing. And perhaps I was a bit too eager just to meet a coworker in person after all this time. So I wasted, like, over a week and a half of stress. Well I didn't garner much sympathy here, and anyone who said I'm working for the wrong company is very wrong, but thank you for engaging.

rmk 3y ago

It's a consequence of illegal immigration, and people encouraging it. Physically presenting ID may be a countermeasure against fraud, so perhaps that's why they are bringing it back?

NoZebra120vClip 3y ago
The way I'm being asked to do it is absurd and onerous. My employer's outsourced this to a service. So far, so good. The service put the burden on the employees to get'er done, but that's not the whole of it. They're demanding that we identify a person--friend, family, neighbor--to act as "in-person verifier". In my unique situation, this is, perhaps uniquely, very difficult to do. I contacted an official Notary Public who refused. My church refused. So did my dentist. I connected with a coworker who offered to help, and flaked on Sunday, so now I'm waiting 'til Friday to hopefully possibly get'er done, but I'm becoming nervous and the employer is issuing veiled threats about jeopardizing our employment if we don't do this thing that's their responsibility in the first place. Also they've known about this whole thing since before May, but only sprung it on us a couple of weeks ago.
- idontwantthis 3y ago
  Sorry, but how do you not know any person at all? I had to do this and it’s just an online form asking if they’ve seen your documentation.
  - NoZebra120vClip 3y ago
    "Just" -- well, this is the proposition: "Hi, you barely know me, but can I doxxx you to this website you don't know and then show you my ID so you're on the hook for a Federal verification thing?" It requires a modicum of trust on the part of the person I'm asking. Yes, I could slip $5 to a bum at the train station to do it, if I felt like giving him my phone. Perhaps I'm not creative enough to think of people. But yes, I really know that few people who are physically nearby. Basically, all of my friends and family are remote. I have an active social life but it's all online. I asked a Notary and they flat said no. Likewise with the offices I visit; I mean, that's just not their job, and it's a liability problem. My employer refused to provide a person to do this. It's the employer's obligation to get this done. They're absolutely passing the buck here, and way too far. Of course they won't be the one to get in trouble if this fails, they'll just fire us all.
    - idontwantthis 3y ago
      Instead of trying to entice your neighbor to commit a conspiracy, try asking to borrow a cup of sugar, but then ask them to fill out this website for you instead. You are making your own barriers here, for what reason I don’t know. This is a lot simpler than bringing your passport to the office, even if you work in the office.
      - NoZebra120vClip 3y ago
        I don't care how simple it is, this is not my responsibility. I've been employed with the same employer for 3 years. They verified me on hire, 2 months after the lockdowns. The feds inexplicably want to erase all that work and redo it from scratch. It's their responsibility to verify me and complete this form. They used to have an office right down the street, and I know they still retain a sizable staff in my area. They should have no problem designating an employee to just go around and verify people. I didn't make these barriers, the buck-passing cost-cutting low-information folks did it for me. They told us we have 3 days from receipt to finalize this. They knew about this before May (May was when the deadline got a 30-day extension) and they're springing it on us with such urgency now! Well pardon me!

beckingz 3y ago

I had to go in to the office to have my passport verified after 4 months of employment... don't really see the point.

syndicatedjelly 3y ago

> If this is widespread as it seems to be, it could place thousands of jobs in jeopardy. I don't understand why this is going down, and I'm dismayed by the way it's being handled. I had a 2 minute meeting with HR to verify my passport. It was the least inconvenient thing I’ve ever done for the government. We’ll survive this.

NoZebra120vClip 3y ago
Nearest office is about 3000 miles away. This is specifically about remote workers who were virtually "verified" in the first place.
- syndicatedjelly 3y ago
  > There are other alternative methods that may be used, actually, to virtually re-verify over a live video session: https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-related-news/new-e-verify-employers-may-use-alternative-procedure-for-form-i-9-documents-examined-remotely-during https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-related-news/new-...

dubaiclean777 3y ago

[flagged]

codethrower 3y ago

ive been working at a place for just about 2 years. Just needed to get my i-9 reverified. company told us to just find someone to show your documents to and they can verify it. They just had to log into the verification site, type in all of the numbers/info and say yup im someone different

codethrower 3y ago
ill add, they didnt care who verified it. as long as it was someone other than your self
- Olphs 3y ago
  And how did they verify that it was someone other than yourself? Just a checkbox? Or like document upload or something? SSN?
  - codethrower 3y ago
    Just a check box and a all bolded paragraph with some scary lawyer text

NoZebra120vClip 3y ago

So I was finally able to get this done, and I really should have done it this way from Day One. My next-door neighbor quickly responded yes, and as soon as I knocked on his door we had the process underway and finished in 15 minutes. It was really the missed connections with my coworker that wasted all the time, because I was counting on her alone, and let her set the schedule, rather than just find someone who could immediately do the thing. And perhaps I was a bit too eager just to meet a coworker in person after all this time. So I wasted, like, over a week and a half of stress. Well I didn't garner much sympathy here, and anyone who said I'm working for the wrong company is very wrong, but thank you for engaging.