Attention Employers and HR Professionals:
The E-Verify system is officially back online and will continue to remain online for the duration of the government shutdown; it may be time to catch up on any employment verification cases that were delayed during the outage.
What Is E-Verify?
E-Verify is a free, web-based system operated by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. It allows employers to confirm the employment eligibility of new hires by electronically comparing information from the employee’s Form I-9 to records from the Social Security Administration and DHS.
What Is Form I-9?
Form I-9, or the Employment Eligibility Verification form, is required for every employee hired in the United States. Employers must:
- Ensure the employee completes Section 1 on or before their first day of work.
- Complete Section 2 within three business days of the employee’s start date.
- Review and retain acceptable documents that verify identity and work authorization.
Important Compliance Reminder
E-Verify is a supplement to—not a replacement for—Form I-9. Even during system outages, employers are still required to complete Form I-9 on time. Now that E-Verify is back online, employers may wish to:
- Submit any backlogged E-Verify cases immediately,
- Follow USCIS guidance on handling delayed cases, and
- Avoid taking adverse action against employees due to verification delays the outage caused.
Timely action may help avoid penalties and ensure organizations’ workforces remain properly vetted.