On April 10, 2018, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced the launch of the new E-Verify website, E-Verify.gov. The new user-friendly website provides employers, employees and the general public with information about E-Verify and Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, including employee rights and employer responsibilities in the employment verification process. The website enables employers to enroll in E-Verify directly, and it also permits current users to access their accounts.
E-Verify is a free, easy-to-use internet-based system that helps employers maintain a legal workforce. The system, which already has nearly 800,000 enrolled employers, compares information from an employee’s Form I-9 to records available in Department of Homeland Security and the Social Security Administration databases for the purpose of verifying work authorization in the U.S. Keep in mind, E-Verify is a voluntary program, but employers with federal contracts or subcontracts that contain the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) E-Verify clause are required to enroll in the program as a condition of federal contracting.
In addition, certain employers may also be required to participate in E-Verify if their states have legislation mandating the use of the system, such as a condition of business licensing, and, in some cases, employers may also be required to participate in E-Verify as a result of a legal ruling. E-Verify is available in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands and the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands.
If you have questions on E-Verify or I-9 policies, please contact our office to schedule a consultation to speak with one of our attorneys today! Berardi Immigration Law frequently assists our corporate clients in creating immigration policies and presenting webinars to explain the nuances of E-Verify and I-9 policies.
