Correcting I-9 mistakes: who fixes what

Completed forms in Onboarded are locked on purpose — a signed I-9 is a legal record. Fixing an error means reopening the form so the right person corrects it and re-signs. This overview covers who that is; the linked guides walk through the clicks.

Section 1 errors — the employee fixes them

Name, date of birth, SSN, address, attestation status: only the employee can change their own attestation. The employer never edits Section 1 on the employee's behalf, even with permission. Full walkthrough: How do I fix incorrect information in Section 1 of the I-9?

Note that reopening Section 1 sends the whole form back through both parties — when Section 1 changes, Section 2 must be reviewed and signed again.

Section 2 errors — the employer fixes them

Document titles, numbers, dates, certification details: the employer or authorized representative corrects these. Use Request Change on the task and choose the advanced option — "Need to request a change starting from a specific section?" — to reopen from Section 2 without sending the employee back through Section 1.

If an E-Verify case already exists

Correcting the I-9 never reaches back into a case that was already created. Close the existing case with the closure reason "The case is being closed because the data entered is incorrect," then run a new case from the corrected form. Steps: How to Re-Run an E-Verify Case After a Case Has Been Closed.

Three things not to do

• Don't complete the employee's section for them — the audit trail records whose signature and IP are on the form.

• Don't reset a completed E-Verify form to "fix" a case; it auto-completes without submitting anything.

• Don't backdate. Corrections carry the date they were actually made.

Regulations change. For binding decisions, verify current guidance at USCIS I-9 Central and consult legal counsel. This article is general guidance, not legal advice.