You know you must verify the work status of all your employees, right? The Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 requires businesses to document employees, to make sure that they are legally eligible to work in the U.S. But it has always been difficult to monitor the verification system. Many workers get false identification and employers have no way to know if a Social Security card is fake or real.
In the past, your business would need to submit an I-9 form for each worker to verify eligibility. Now a new Internet-based system created by the U.S. Customs and Immigration Service (USCIS) called E-Verify is making verification easier.
What is E-Verify?
The U.S. Customs and Immigration Service (USCIS) says:
E-Verify is an Internet-based system that compares information from an employee's Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, to data from U.S Department of Homeland Security and Social Security Administration records to confirm employment eligibility.
The USCiS says E-Verify is "fast, free, and easy to use."
How to Get Started with E-Verify
- Determine How Your Business Will Use the System. The USCIS recommends that you start by making some decisions about how the E-Verify system will be used in your business.
- Check Your Computer System. To use the E-Verify system, you will need some minimum configurations on your computer, including browser versions.
- Enroll in the E-Verify System. You must sign a Memorandum of Understanding, input your company information, and complete the registration.
All of the information you need to sign up for E-Verify is on the USCIS website.
Back to New Hire Forms and Registrations
