Overview

Before submitting an employee to E-Verify, review their completed Form I-9 to ensure all required information is accurate and complete.

Reviewing the form before submission helps prevent delays, validation errors, and E-Verify mismatches.

This guide explains what to review and the most common issues to look for.

Before You Begin

Before reviewing Form I-9:

• The employee has completed Section 1.

• The employee has provided identity and work authorization documents.

• You have examined the original documents or completed an approved remote document inspection process.

Step 1: Review Section 1

Confirm the employee completed all required fields, including:

• Full legal name

• Date of birth

• Address

• Citizenship or immigration status

• Signature

• Date signed

If your company participates in E-Verify, confirm the employee has provided a Social Security Number.

Step 2: Confirm the Employee’s Start Date

Verify that the employee’s start date is correct.

The start date entered in Zeal is used when creating the E-Verify case.

If the date is incorrect or outside the required submission timeframe, the case may be delayed or flagged for review.

Step 3: Review Citizenship or Immigration Status

Confirm that the employee selected the correct citizenship or immigration status.

Available options include:

• U.S. Citizen

• Noncitizen National

• Lawful Permanent Resident

• Alien Authorized to Work

The selected status should match the documentation the employee provided.

If the status and documents don’t align, update the information before submitting to E-Verify.

Step 4: Review Identity Documents

Employees must provide either:

• One List A document

OR

• One List B document and one List C document

Review the documents to ensure they:

• Appear genuine

• Relate to the employee

• Are complete and legible

• Match the information entered on Form I-9

If you’re reviewing documents remotely, ensure uploaded images are clear enough to read.

Related Article: 📄 Acceptable I-9 Documents

Step 5: Complete Section 2

After reviewing the employee’s documents, complete Section 2 of Form I-9.

Enter:

• Document information

• Issuing authority

• Document numbers

• Expiration dates (if applicable)

Review everything one final time before submitting.

Common Validation Errors

Zeal validates Form I-9 before creating an E-Verify case.

Tips for Avoiding Delays

Before submitting Form I-9:

• Review all required fields for completeness.

• Confirm document numbers were entered correctly.

• Ensure uploaded documents are readable.

• Verify the employee selected the correct citizenship status.

• Double-check the employment start date.

Taking a few minutes to review the form can help avoid delays during employment verification.

What Happens Next?

Once you’ve reviewed Form I-9, Zeal can submit the employee to E-Verify (if enabled).

Learn more ➡ 📄 Resolve E-Verify Case Results