Audits & Compliance

United States immigration laws recognize the fact that employers in the U.S. frequently need to hire employees who are foreign nationals, particularly in a tight labor market in which there may not be enough American citizens to fill available positions. The federal government imposes stringent legal requirements on employers to ensure that foreign employees are eligible to work in the United States, eligible for a particular visa category, and are not displacing qualified American workers. For instance, all employers are required to complete Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, for all employees. The consequences for violating requirements are steep, and may include both civil and criminal penalties.

Ensuring compliance with immigration law is a serious business, and one for which many employers are not equipped. At Alberto M. Calvo, P.A., we work with employers to ensure that they remain in compliance with legal requirements, and that they can readily prove their compliance if audited by the Department of Labor (DOL) or United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

How We Help Businesses With Immigration Compliance and Audits

Our clients are experts in operating their businesses, and depend on us for assurance that they are in compliance with U.S. immigration law and regulations. We offer our clients peace of mind regarding their legal obligations, so that they can focus on what they do best: promoting the success of their business.

We offer a broad range of services regarding immigration audits and compliance, including:

  • Comprehensive legal advice regarding employment-based immigration issues, including visa applications and compliance with requirements for verification of employment eligibility.
  • Development of policies and procedures to ensure that employment eligibility is properly verified and thoroughly documented in all cases.
  • Assistance with E-verify, an online system operated by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) that allows employers to verify the employment eligibility of all employees. Use of E-verify is optional for most employers, but mandatory for government contractors.
  • Conducting internal audits of client businesses’ immigration-related policies and procedures to identify potential areas of non-compliance or exposure to liability. Internal audits may examine the company’s hiring processes, maintenance of employee files, completion of Form I-9, and other recordkeeping that is subject to review by USCIS.
  • Addressing and resolving potential issues identified during an internal audit
  • Representing businesses that are selected for auditing by government agencies such as USCIS. We help our clients organize their documentation in advance of an audit and represent them in all dealings with the agency throughout the audit process.
  • Assisting clients to address any instances of non-compliance identified in a government audit and to mitigate consequences through negotiation with government agencies and appeal of fines or other penalties. We also help clients to develop protocols to prevent future incidents of non-compliance.

Immigration law is constantly evolving, so we remain up-to-date on legal developments in immigration law affecting employers so that we can proactively advise our clients and enable them to remain in compliance with applicable law.

Work with an Experienced Immigration Compliance Law Firm

Alberto M. Calvo, P.A. works with employers throughout the United States and abroad in a wide range of industries, but we have particular experience representing employers in digital media, including video game and content creators.

We understand that our clients may find the process of ensuring compliance with federal immigration laws and regulations daunting, and the prospect of facing an audit alarming. We offer responsive service, keeping our clients informed of their obligations and options and managing their legal needs so that they can concentrate on operating their businesses.

Based in South Florida, Alberto M. Calvo, P.A., partners with businesses to ensure their compliance with the law and promote their success. To learn more, call us today at (954) 566-2606 or send us a message online.