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When Immigration and Customers Enforcement (ICE) decides to perform an audit of a company’s Employment Eligibility Verification forms (Form I-9), they will issue a Notice of Inspection (NOI). Providing a careful response to an NOI is critical as it lays the platform for communicating, negotiating, and oftentimes settling with ICE. Following the recent decision from the Office of the Chief Administrative Officer (OCAHO), confirming that failing to timely prepare a Form I-9 constitutes both a serious and costly violation, it is important for employers to be vigilant of the fact that ICE continues to conduct I-9 audits. The follow tips are recommended when responding to an NOI.

  • Plan: Have an internal plan in place relating to communication with ICE and dealing with receipt of an NOI. Administrative personnel/receptionists, who are the first point-of-contact at a place of business, should be required to immediately contact the appropriate individual(s) in the event an ICE officer visits the company and issues an NOI. It is recommended that only management or the HR Department should communicate with ICE, noting that any information provided to an ICE officer while serving the NOI could be used against the company later in the audit process. If your administrative personnel/receptionist is authorized to accept and receive an NOI, it is crucial they notify management immediately as the NOI must be responded to within the three days (72hrs) as provided by the law. Having a proper plan in place helps alleviate the panic that occurs when an ICE agent shows up at your place of business.
  • Counsel: Responding to an NOI and communicating with ICE is a complicated process. If not already represented, contact immigration counsel immediately upon receipt of an NOI. Responding to an NOI is a serious process and should not be taken lightly. Although the ICE agent delivering the NOI may seem friendly, they have been known to lead employers to inadvertently make adverse statements which are used against the employer later in the process. The NOI will allow the company three business days to return the requested documents to ICE. Although an employer may believe that its I-9 forms and other documentation are in order, an employer should never waive the three day period allowed to produce the forms. Immigration counsel should conduct an audit of the I-9 forms and make any corrections, where permissible, prior to turning over the documentation to ICE. An immigration attorney who is skilled in responding to NOI’s and working with ICE, will be able to assist a company in both auditing and pinpointing other mitigating factors.
  • Communicate: Communication with an ICE agent should be professional, honest, and tactful. Remember, no matter how pleasant the ICE agent acts, this is a serious matter and not a friendly exchange of information and documentation. If the employer is uncertain concerning any information contained within the NOI, it is appropriate to immediately seek clarification and confirmation from ICE, keeping in mind the three business day timeframe. The employer’s attorney should be included in any communication with ICE.
  • Document: It is equally important to keep an accurate record of anything turned over to ICE. An ICE audit does not actually take place at the employer site, rather it is handled at the ICE field office. The company should make a complete carbon-copy of all I-9 forms and supporting documentation provided to ICE, and request a receipt from the ICE agent. It is further recommended that the employer document any verbal communications with ICE in the form of an email, letter, or written summary.
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Photo of Laura Foote Reiff ‡ Laura Foote Reiff ‡

Laura Foote Reiff has more than 32 years of experience representing businesses and organizations in the business immigration and compliance field. She is also a business immigration advocate and has long chaired prominent business immigration coalitions. Laura is Co-Founder of GT’s Business and

Laura Foote Reiff has more than 32 years of experience representing businesses and organizations in the business immigration and compliance field. She is also a business immigration advocate and has long chaired prominent business immigration coalitions. Laura is Co-Founder of GT’s Business and Immigration and Compliance Group which she co-led since 1999. She currently chairs the Northern Virginia/Washington D.C. Immigration and Compliance Practice. Laura is also Co-Managing Shareholder of the Northern Virginia Office of GT, a position she has held since 2010. As a global leader in the business immigration community, Laura has served on the Boards of the American Immigration Lawyers Association, the American Immigration Council, the National Immigration Forum and is currently the Chair of the America is Better Board.

Laura advises corporations on a variety of compliance-related issues, particularly related to Form I-9 eligibility employment verification matters. Laura has been involved in audits and internal investigations and has successfully minimized monetary exposure as well as civil and criminal liabilities on behalf of her clients. She develops immigration compliance strategies and programs for both small and large companies. Laura performs I-9, H-1B and H-2B compliance inspections during routine internal reviews, while performing due diligence (in the context of a merger, acquisition or sale) or while defending a company against a government investigation.

Laura represents many businesses in creating, managing and using “Regional Centers” that can create indirect jobs toward the 10 new U.S. jobs whose creation can give rise to EB-5 permanent residence for investment. She coordinates this work with attorneys practicing in securities law compliance, with economists identifying “targeted employment areas” and projecting indirect job creation, and with licensed securities brokers coordinating offerings. She also represents individual investors in obtaining conditional permanent residence and in removing conditions from permanent residence.

Laura’s practice also consists of managing business immigration matters and providing immigration counsel to address the visa and work authorization needs of U.S. and global personnel including professionals, managers and executives, treaty investors/ traders, essential workers, persons of extraordinary ability, corporate trainees, and students. She is an immigration policy advocacy expert and works on immigration reform policies.

 Admitted in the District of Columbia and Maryland. Not admitted in Virginia. Practice limited to federal immigration practice.

Photo of Rebecca B. Schechter ‡ Rebecca B. Schechter ‡

Rebecca Schechter focuses her practice on business immigration and compliance, representing multi-national corporations midsized companies, and startups, as well as individual clients. She has experience with all areas of employment-based immigration, particularly H-1B, L-1, O-1 and E-2 petitions, as well as outstanding researcher…

Rebecca Schechter focuses her practice on business immigration and compliance, representing multi-national corporations midsized companies, and startups, as well as individual clients. She has experience with all areas of employment-based immigration, particularly H-1B, L-1, O-1 and E-2 petitions, as well as outstanding researcher petitions and labor certification applications. Rebecca regularly assists GT clients with global immigration matters, including business and work visas to countries in Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and Latin America. She also works on state and federal I-9 and E-Verify audits. Rebecca has a thorough understanding of third party contractor issues and experience handling complex naturalization, deportation defense, family and employment-based adjustment applications.

Admitted in Maryland and Connecticut. Not admitted in Virginia. Practice limited to federal immigration practice.