Cost of I-9 Compliance Document Migration

Expert-led I-9 compliance document migration built for audit readiness.

What is I-9 Document Migration?

I-9 document migration is the process of consolidating your employee verification records from various systems or physical formats into a single, compliant repository. 
This includes:

  • Electronic I-9s stored in legacy HR systems
  • Paper forms stored onsite or offsite
  • Supporting documents (IDs, SSNs, visas)
  • E-Verify case data (numbers, statuses)
Why Companies Undertake Migration
Switching HRIS platforms (e.g., from SAP to Workday)
Mergers and acquisitions
Audit prep or internal compliance remediation
Standardizing record retention and access
Common Pitfalls
Incomplete or corrupt legacy data
Lack of support for older I-9 versions
Missing E-Verify data
Unmatched employee and payroll records
Cost Elements of an I-9 Migration
We offer four service tiers tailored to your I-9 landscape:
Feature
(Paper I-9s only)
(Paper I-9s only)
Only Name, SSN, Date of Hire, Document Expiration Date
Electronic Migration
Paper Migration
Migration & Audit
Full Audit
Copy/paste from existing systems
Override business rules when appropriate
Attach supporting documents
Add E-Verify Case Number & Status (If Provided)
Attach original paper I-9
Allow electronic updates going forward
Create user access for employees (Section 1)
Missing Fields Report
Intelligent Error Checking
Identity Verification
Duplicate Management
Supporting Document Verification
Payroll Matching
Citizenship Status Verification
Individualized Corrective Action Plan
(Incomplete I-9 report ONLY)
(Incomplete I-9 report ONLY)
Each tier includes escalating levels of validation, compliance assurance, and audit preparedness. Our team handles override logic, document linking, duplicate reconciliation, and more.
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Why Migration Matters—The High Risk of Non-Migration

Fragmented I-9 Records Create Compliance Blind Spots

When I-9s are scattered across systems, compliance risk grows. HR teams often cannot account for all employees, identify expired documents, or produce complete records in time for an audit.

The Cost of Not Knowing Your Exposure

ICE gives just 3 business days to deliver all I-9s. Failure to comply can lead to fines of $272–$2,701 per record. Many employers don’t realize their records are non-compliant until it’s too late.

Audit-Readiness Is a Strategic Advantage

A consolidated system:

  • Alerts you to expiring or missing documents
  • Enables full audit trail visibility
  • Centralizes reporting across all worksites
  • Saves thousands in compliance fines and remediation costs

Why i9 Intelligence is Built for This

Our platform uniquely supports all 11 versions of the I-9—no other vendor on the market offers this level of backwards compatibility. Combined with our intelligent audit features and dedicated migration team, we ensure clients are audit-ready within 72 hours.

Explore Our I-9 Compliance Platform

ROI of I-9 Migration

This year, we partnered with a company and migrated 10,000 I-9s in our Tier 3 package. The company invested $130,000 in migration and key benefits included:

  • Reduced compliance fine exposure, estimated at $2.65m at a 65% error rate.
  • Saves HR admin time and improved audit response capability.
  • Ensures long-term data integrity post-M&A or system upgrade.

Risk Avoidance vs. Cost

Investing in migration proactively costs far less than reactive legal and penalty expenses.

Long-Term Value

  • Centralized repository
  • Full version history
  • Remote verification and E-Verify integration options

Best Practices for a Successful I-9 Migration

  • Audit existing records for gaps and duplicates
  • Scan and link paper forms
  • Validate against payroll and E-Verify systems
  • Apply intelligent error-checking
  • Document a corrective action plan where needed
  • Enable employee access for Section 1 updates
  • Establish role-based access and system governance

Choosing the Right I-9 Migration Partner

Checklist for Providers

  • Backwards compatibility
  • Error-checking logic
  • Remote verification support
  • Audit response SLAs
  • Secure storage and access

Questions to Ask

  • Can you produce all I-9s within 72 hours?
  • Do you support forms from 1980s/1990s?
  • What’s your remediation and audit correction process?

FAQs: I-9 Compliance Migration Cost

What does “backwards compatibility” mean for I-9 migration?

It means the ability to support and validate all historical versions of Form I-9.

How long does it take to migrate legacy I-9s?

Typical projects range from 1 to 6 weeks depending on volume and format.

Can paper I-9s be digitized and stored electronically?

Yes. We scan and attach original forms, link documents, and convert key fields.

Is E-Verify data migrated as well?

Yes, when provided, E-Verify case numbers and statuses are validated and stored.

What if some of our I-9s are incomplete or have errors?

We identify and flag errors, and at higher tiers, develop corrective action plans.

How are duplicate I-9s handled?

Our system uses pattern recognition and fuzzy matching to detect and consolidate duplicates.

What access will employees have to their I-9s post-migration?

Role-based portals can be enabled to allow secure employee updates to Section 1.

Ready to Migrate Your I-9s?

Ready to reduce your compliance risk and gain full visibility into your I-9 landscape? Book a demo with our team to explore how we can support your migration and audit-readiness goals.

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