Sterling Check Corp. (NASDAQ:STER) (“Sterling”), the largest provider of identity and background services, and ID.me, the market leading digital identity and credentials network, today announced they will be launching a new virtual I-9 document review service in the coming weeks. As part of the existing Sterling I-9 solution, ID.me Trusted Referees will examine documents virtually, securely, and conveniently, enabling employers to complete I-9 requirements remotely for their new hires.
ID.me and Sterling’s new solution is built upon the recently announced alternative verification procedures from Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Instead of relying on in-person review conducted by an employer or 3rd party notary, ID.me’s expert Trusted Referees will be available to complete secure virtual document review on behalf of the employer.
The ID.me Trusted Referees are screened and trained to Department of Commerce standards for identity proofing set by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). Currently 14 federal agencies and 35 state government agencies rely on ID.me’s Trusted Referees to verify users.
The virtual document review process will be available to new and existing Sterling I-9 clients who are also E-Verify users in good standing. The entire process can be completed remotely in 5-10 minutes and is compliant with DHS and USCIS requirements. All documents examined by ID.me Trusted Referees are retained along with all other I-9 documents in the Sterling system and available to employers for audit purposes.
“Our clients have been requesting a more modern, secure I-9 document verification solution for years,” said Josh Peirez, CEO of Sterling. “Sterling’s new virtual review service will streamline the I-9 document verification experience for the virtual work environment.”
This solution builds upon Sterling’s innovative suite of identity verification solutions for US employers, offered through an exclusive partnership with ID.me.
“We applaud the Department of Homeland Security for modernizing onboarding processes to allow for a secure, remote option for I-9 document review,” said Blake Hall, CEO of ID.me. “Our Trusted Referees are expertly trained to examine identity documents, and this service can help thousands of employers to efficiently comply with DHS requirements by leveraging video chat to complete Form I-9.”
This new solution will be available exclusively to Sterling I-9 clients in the coming weeks. Visit https://www.sterlingcheck.com/services/form-i-9-e-verify/ to learn more.
