Form I-9 completeness
Every field on every form is checked against the M-274 ruleset — Section 1, Section 2, and Section 3 — for errors, omissions, and inconsistencies.
The most rigorous I-9 audit-defense pack an employer can have.
Audit-Defense Engine assembles a documentation-complete I-9 compliance pack — every form audited against the M-274 ruleset, every fixable error remediated the non-discriminatory way, every reverification deadline tracked, and a named specialist standing ready to run the 3-day clock when an ICE Notice of Inspection lands.
Every subsection of 8 CFR §274a and M-274Five statutory notice elements, gate-checkedDHSMV · USCG · UCC · judgment lien searchesSpecialist release on every pack5-business-day SLA
Why packs fail
A single missing element can void the entire sale.
An employer's I-9 compliance is only as strong as the audit behind it. Miss one of the five statutory notice elements, skip a required lien search, mis-time the 60-day window, or fail to notify a recorded lienholder — and the sale can be challenged, unwound, or expose the marina to liability.
Most employers run this by hand, from memory, once or twice a year. The statute has not been read end-to-end since the last time it mattered. That is exactly where completeness gaps hide.
Audit-Defense Engine exists to close that gap with a single, exhaustive standard applied identically to every file.
1 of 5
missing notice elements is enough to jeopardize a sale
The benchmark
Measured against the letter of the statute — subsection by subsection.
We do not summarize the law and hope. Every pack is scored against a versioned rule pack tied to the exact text of 8 CFR §274a and the M-274 Handbook. These are the provisions each pack is held to.
Document verification
List A, B, and C documents are verified for acceptability and expiration; any document that appears invalid or expired is flagged for correction.
Reverification tracking
All reverification triggers (work authorization expiration, name changes, status changes) are identified and calendared with automated reminders.
Retention and storage
Forms are retained for the required period (3 years after hire or 1 year after termination, whichever is later) and stored in a manner compliant with DHS regulations.
E-Verify compliance
For employers enrolled in E-Verify, all queries are submitted within the required timeframe and results are documented and acted upon.
Notice of Inspection response
A pre-assembled NOI response packet includes all forms, supporting documents, and a cover letter; the specialist is on standby to deliver within 3 business days.
How a pack is built
Intake to specialist release, with deterministic gates the AI cannot overrule.
AI extracts and drafts. Deterministic rules — running as code, outside the model — decide what is complete. A human specialist signs every release. That order is never reversed.
01
Compliance Gap Scan
Upload your I-9 inventory and supporting documents. We return a free completeness read: which forms are correct, which have fixable errors, and which require substantive correction.
02
Evidence & document verification
As your authorized clerical agent, we verify each employee's identity and work authorization documents against the M-274 ruleset and flag any discrepancies.
03
Grounded remediation drafting
For each fixable error, we draft a non-discriminatory correction plan — no legal opinions, no invented facts — using the M-274's allowed correction methods.
04
Deterministic completeness gates
Every field is reconciled to the M-274; reverification dates are verified; the document checklist is resolved; SCRA is screened. Any failure blocks release.
05
Specialist release
A certified I-9 specialist reviews the exception queue and signs the release. High-value or complex cases route to partner immigration counsel first.
06
Delivery
You receive the pack: corrected forms, evidence log, reverification calendar, NOI response packet, and a read-only status portal — ready for your records.
The bar we hold
Rigor you can measure.
100%
Specialist-released
No pack ships without a human signature.
5 days
Standard SLA
From complete intake to released pack.
<1%
Critical-defect target
Tracked against a gold-standard pack library.
4
Lien-search sources
DHSMV · USCG · UCC · judgment, every applicable file.
Why Audit-Defense Engine
Built to be the most thorough option an employer has.
Documentation-complete, by design
The deliverable is completeness itself — every statutory element and search accounted for or explicitly exception-coded. Nothing is left implicit.
Deterministic, not vibes
The gates that decide completeness are code, not a model's opinion. A drafting error cannot slip past a statutory requirement.
In its lane, on purpose
We prepare documentation and run searches as your clerical agent. We never contact the vessel owner, give legal advice, or conduct the sale.
Engagement
Flat fee, per released pack. No contingency, ever.
Simple, predictable, and aligned with a documentation standard — not a cut of any recovery.
- A free Compliance Gap Scan before you commit — see exactly what is missing.
- One flat fee per released Audit-Defense Compliance Pack; disclosed pass-through search fees.
- Optional fixed-fee attorney review for high-value or complex cases.
- Optional Annual Program Retainer for ongoing monitoring and reverification tracking.
FAQ
Questions, answered precisely.
Is Audit-Defense Engine a law firm?
No. Audit-Defense Engine, a service of Your Deputy, Obuke LLC, provides documentation-completeness services. It is not a law firm, does not provide legal advice, and does not represent you in any legal matter. Attorney review is available and recommended for high-value or complex cases.
Do you contact the employee or enforce compliance?
Never. Audit-Defense Engine is not a debt collector and does not contact employees or enforce compliance. The employer remains responsible for all employee interactions and any corrective actions.
What makes a pack 'complete'?
Completeness is defined by the statute: every field on every I-9 checked against the M-274, document verification completed, reverification dates calendared, and NOI response packet assembled. Deterministic gates enforce each one before release.
How fast is it?
The standard SLA is five business days from complete intake to a specialist-released pack. The free Gap Scan is returned much sooner and tells you exactly what is still needed.
How are you priced?
A flat fee per released pack, plus disclosed pass-through search costs. No contingency and no percentage of any recovered amount or sale proceeds.
See what's missing before it costs you a sale.
Start with a free Compliance Gap Scan. Send your I-9 inventory and we'll return a completeness read against every subsection of 8 CFR §274a and the M-274.
Documentation-completeness service · not legal advice · the employer retains all compliance obligations.