When a worker begins a second I-9 while an E-Verify case from their earlier application is still open, Fountain holds the new I-9 immediately before Section 2.
The worker keeps their completed Section 1, no form is restarted or resubmitted, and the hold clears on its own once the earlier case is closed. This article covers why an I-9 is held, where to see it, and how to clear it.
Why an I-9 Is Blocked
E-Verify permits one open case per person at a time. If a worker's earlier case is still open, E-Verify rejects the second case as a duplicate.
Fountain creates the E-Verify case when Section 2 is completed, so the hold sits immediately before Section 2, the last point at which the duplicate can still be avoided. The worker's record moves to the Blocked step with an E-Verify conflict status, and Section 1 remains complete.
Situation | Blocked? |
The worker's earlier E-Verify case is still open and their new Section 1 is done | Yes — held before Section 2 |
The worker's earlier case is authorized or closed | No |
First-time worker with no earlier case | No |
Section 2 is already complete | No — a finished Section 2 is never moved backwards |
What Counts as an Open Case
A case is settled once it reaches one of the following statuses. A settled case blocks nothing, and any existing hold clears automatically.
Classification | Status | Effect on the new I-9 |
Closed / settled | Employment Authorized | Does not block |
Closed / settled | Closed — Authorized | Does not block |
Closed / settled | Closed — Non-Confirmation | Does not block |
Closed / settled | Closed — Other | Does not block |
Closed / settled | Manually Closed | Does not block |
Open / not settled | Final Non-Confirmation | Blocks the new I-9 until an admin explicitly closes the case |
Open / not settled | Any other status that still requires action | Blocks Section 2 until the case reaches a settled status |
Final Non-Confirmation Is Not A Settled Status
Reaching Final Non-Confirmation does not release the hold. The earlier case must still be closed before the worker can progress
Find a Blocked I-9
The Banner on the I-9 Forms Table
An orange banner sits above the I-9 Forms table: "1 blocked profile requires immediate action. Take action."
Click Take action to filter the table down to the blocked profiles. You can dismiss the banner; it returns the next time you open the page while blocked profiles remain.
The Blocked Status Tab
The I-9 Forms table includes a Blocked status tab, with an E-Verify conflict option under Filter By Status. Every blocked row carries an E-Verify conflict status tag.
Use the tab to review the list at any time, not only when the banner is showing.
The Worker's I-9 Profile
A red banner on the worker's I-9 profile explains the hold and carries the action:
"Resolve the previous E-Verify case first. An earlier E-Verify case for this person is still open, blocking progression of this new case. Close the previous case to let the worker progress to Section 2."
The Complete Section 2 button is hidden while the I-9 is blocked. This is deliberate as completing Section 2 is the action that would create the duplicate case.
What the Worker Sees
On the worker's task list, Section 1 stays complete and Section 2 shows in orange as Awaiting employer review.
Opening the task shows a short waiting screen: "Your I-9 is being reviewed. Your employer needs to review your I-9 submission before you can continue. We'll let you know when your next step is ready."
A Contact your employer if you need help link opens your company's support details.
The Worker Screen Names No Case
The worker's screen does not mention E-Verify or their earlier application. They cannot act on either one, and naming the case would read as a problem with the worker.
Resolve a Blocked I-9
Open the blocked worker's I-9 profile — from Take action on the banner, from the Blocked tab, or from the notification.
Click Resolve conflict in the red banner.
The earlier E-Verify case opens. An orange notice at the top confirms which case you are looking at: "This is the previous, conflicting, E-Verify case. Close it to let the worker continue with their new I-9."
Work that case to a close, exactly as you would any other E-Verify case. See E-Verify Process for the steps that apply to each case status.
Close the window. Fountain confirms: "I-9 conflict resolved. The worker can now continue with their new I-9."
Do Not Restart The I-9 To Clear A Hold
A restart creates a second E-Verify case and can turn an on-time I-9 into a late one. Closing the earlier case is the only step required.
Resolving a conflict requires the Can manage an I-9 form permission. With view-only access you can see the hold, the Blocked tab, and the status tag, but not the Resolve conflict button.
Closing A Case Happens In WorkBright
Fountain opens the earlier case for you, but the case itself is closed through the standard WorkBright and E-Verify flow.
Continue After the Earlier Case Closes
The hold clears automatically, within a few moments. Nobody has to release it.
Section 2 becomes available and the worker's task reopens.
If you are still on the profile when it clears, the banner disappears and Fountain confirms the change.
The worker is notified, if worker notifications are enabled.
The worker follows the notification link, selects their verification method as usual, and continues through the selected flow. The hold does not erase Section 1, move a completed Section 2 backward, or change the selected approval process.
Understand the Impact by Approval Flow
The hold applies before Section 2, so every approval flow waits at the same point: Section 1 stays complete, but the worker cannot move into the verification-method selection step until the earlier E-Verify case is closed.
Approval flow | While blocked | After the earlier case closes |
Authorized Representative | The worker has not reached method selection, so the authorized representative flow is not started by the hold itself. If a representative was selected before the hold, the selection remains intact, but Section 2 cannot be completed. | The worker selects their verification method as usual and can choose Authorized Representative. The representative flow continues normally. |
On-Site Verification | The worker has not reached method selection, so on-site verification is not started by the hold itself. | The worker selects their verification method as usual and can choose On-Site Verification. |
Live Video Verification | The worker has not reached method selection, so live video verification is not scheduled or started by the hold itself. | The worker selects their verification method as usual and can choose Live Video Verification. |
Admin Validation | The worker has not reached method selection, so admin validation is not started by the hold itself. The admin's first action is to use Resolve conflict and close the earlier case. | The worker selects their verification method as usual and can choose Admin Validation. The admin validation flow continues normally. |
Set Up Conflict Notifications
Two notifications support this workflow. Both are off until you turn them on, and both use editable templates like any other Fountain notification.
They are configured in different places: the admin alert is a per-user setting, and the worker message is an account-level setting.
Recipient | Notification | Message |
Admins | Duplicate conflict | "A worker can't continue their I-9 because a prior E-Verify case is still open." The Resolve action opens that worker's profile, or the Blocked tab when several workers are affected. |
Workers | I-9 ready to continue | Email or SMS: "Your I-9 is ready for the next step. Continue to Section 2 to complete your I-9." |
Turn On the Admin Duplicate Conflict Alert
Admin I-9 Center notifications are set per user account.
Click your company name/logo in the bottom left sidebar.
Click Profile in the menu.
Scroll to the I-9 Center Notifications section.
Turn on the E-Verify toggle, then turn on Duplicate conflict beneath it.
Choose the digest frequency for your notifications. You can choose hourly, daily, weekly, or monthly.
The alert reads: "A worker can't continue their I-9 because a prior E-Verify case is still open." Its Resolve action opens that worker's profile, or the Blocked tab when several workers are affected.
Turn On the Worker I-9 Ready to Continue Message
This message tells the worker their I-9 has moved forward and Section 2 is available.
Click I-9 Center in the left sidebar, then click Settings.
Find I-9 ready to continue in the worker notification list, between I-9 Rejected and I-9 Restarted.
Toggle on Email, SMS, or both.
Click Customize message next to either channel to edit the template.
Click Save.
The default message reads: "Your I-9 is ready for the next step. Continue to Section 2 to complete your I-9."
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the worker lose their completed Section 1?
No. Section 1 stays complete and stays visible as complete. Only Section 2 waits.
Can I complete Section 2 anyway?
No. The button is hidden while the I-9 is blocked, because completing Section 2 is what creates the duplicate E-Verify case.
The earlier case belongs to a different location or team. Who closes it?
The rule follows the person, not the application, so any open case for that worker blocks the new I-9.
Whoever has access to the earlier case closes it. Resolve conflict opens that case directly, so you do not have to go looking for it.
How long can an I-9 stay blocked?
For as long as the earlier case stays open. I-9 deadlines continue to run while it waits, so treat a blocked profile as urgent.
Does this affect anyone other than rehires?
In practice, no. It applies to any worker starting a second I-9 while an earlier E-Verify case of theirs is open, which is almost always a rehire.