What is an authorized representative for I-9?

An authorized representative is a person designated by the employer to complete Section 2 of Form I-9 by physically examining the employee's identity and employment authorization documents, verifying their authenticity, and certifying that the documents appear genuine and relate to the employee presenting them. The authorized representative can be any individual over 18 years old, including mobile notaries, HR professionals, third-party service providers, or even other employees within the organization—the employer determines who is authorized to act on their behalf. However, the employer retains full legal liability for any errors, omissions, or violations on I-9 forms completed by their authorized representative, making proper training and reliable service providers critical to compliance.

Federal law does not require authorized representatives to have special training, licensing, or certification, but employers must ensure their representatives understand I-9 requirements, acceptable document lists (List A, B, and C), fraud detection basics, and anti-discrimination rules that prohibit requesting specific documents or rejecting valid documentation based on national origin or citizenship status. Many employers use mobile notary services as authorized representatives because notaries are already trained in identity verification, document examination, and record-keeping practices that align with I-9 compliance standards. The authorized representative must be physically present with the employee during Section 2 completion—remote verification via video is only a temporary accommodation through December 2025 and still requires subsequent physical inspection.

Lake Mead Mobile Notary serves as a trusted authorized representative for I-9 verification throughout Las Vegas, Henderson, North Las Vegas, and Boulder City, providing professional document examination services for employers with remote workers, multi-location operations, or limited HR staff. Our mobile notaries travel to employee locations—home offices, co-working spaces, or any convenient site—complete Section 2 verification with proper physical document inspection, and provide employers with compliant, audit-ready I-9 forms. This service eliminates the burden of coordinating internal authorized representatives, reduces employer liability through professional verification, and ensures every I-9 meets federal standards that withstand ICE audits.