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> 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.

Nearest office is about 3000 miles away. This is specifically about remote workers who were virtually "verified" in the first place.

> 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-...

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.

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

ill add, they didnt care who verified it. as long as it was someone other than your self

And how did they verify that it was someone other than yourself? Just a checkbox? Or like document upload or something? SSN?

Just a check box and a all bolded paragraph with some scary lawyer text

I had to go in to the office to have my passport verified after 4 months of employment...

don't really see the point.

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?

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.

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.

"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.

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.

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!

You are being very hard-headed about this.

Presumably your employment is at-will? If so, you're right, it's not your "responsibility", you are free to terminate this employment relationship, and seek another employer who has an I-9 process that is more to your liking. Likewise, your employer is free to terminate the employment relationship, and seek another employee who is able to complete their (outsourced) I-9 process.

If this seems like an insurmountable administrative task to you, I suspect you will have limited career success in most organizations of any size.

I liked their process fine; I was hired and they verified me.

What's shocking is that everyone needs a redo over 3 years later. Also shocking, they can't avail themselves of the virtual verification option which is provided for exactly our situation.

My employer is not "free" to terminate us, they will be legally required to do so, or suffer stiff penalties. To say we're "free" to quit is callous, ignorant, and rude.

Your employer might be legally required to terminate you in some limited circumstances.

They might also just voluntarily elect to do that as performance management / business decision, or the easiest way to resolve a problem.

If an employer theoretically ended up with a few hundred employees without a valid, verified I-9, then I don't know about "legally required", but if they weren't fired, that employer could face stiff federal penalties for not living up to their obligations. Do you see how weird this is?

I mean, short of showing up at an office, and making yourself enough of a nuisance for HR to get off their duff, it sounds like a good sign that employer may not be for you.

If they can't handle an I-9 in good faith, they have no business hiring. Everyone who employs someone has to have that link of process done.

Anyone who isn't your employer is absolutely justified in refusing. It is a huge liability for anyone else but your employer to do it, as lying to the feds, da-da-da-daaa...is a crime.

For your employer, it's cost of doing business. For anyone else, it's really sketchy af. The Notary Public would have had the best chance of being accommodating, but if it were me, I'd want to hear from your employer directly why my services were required, and to whom to send the bill. As you should not be on the hook for any costs therearound, and they really shouldn't be sending you scrabbling to strangers for a vouch.

Good luck.

Thank you for the encouragement.

Yes, "sending the bill", this is an interesting thought. I'm going to require transportation to and from the meet point, if my coworker can pull this off on Friday. I do believe I'll send two taxi receipts to my employer, because this is the cost of them doing business.

> I don't care how simple it is, this is not my responsibility.

Did you say the same thing when you showed up for your first day of work and they asked to verify your identity the first time around? Why is this any different?

My supervisor verified my ID in a live video call during onboarding, according to COVID-19 procedures. My employer verified me. Not me recruiting a random stranger.

Tell HN: I-9 Debacle Nationwide