I-9s and Corporate Compliance

Good corporate citizenship is always important, and moving forward it is especiallycritical.

Corporate compliance requires scrupulous adherence with all laws, including those relating to immigration. Indeed good corporate citizenship knows no borders, as countries around the globe increase the level of corporate scrutiny. Needless to say, corporations that do not comply with the law present easy targets for substantial fines, criminal prosecution, and public ridicule. Securities laws, Sarbanes–Oxley, and similar laws are at the top of the corporate compliance list. Immigration law compliance, which can be especially daunting because of its global scope and inherent complexity, also is of increasing importance to businesses worldwide. It should go without saying that corporate compliance with both the letter and the spirit of the law is essential to maintaining a competitive advantage in the global marketplace, because companies cannot waste valuable resources on damage control and effect their ability to employ foreign natural workers.

An inherent part of establishing and maintaining a good corporate compliance program includes completing and maintaining I-9 employment eligibility verification forms for all employees.

Maggio & Kattar has a number of articles on establishing a corporate compliance program as well as on I-9 practice designed for corporate human resource personnel and other officers involved with immigration law compliance issues.