E-Verify - What you Need to Know

At the start of May 2018, we announced that we’ll be using the E-Verify system alongside I-9 forms to confirm employee identity and work authorization. This is a system that we have opted to voluntarily utilize – a decision we feel is important to better support our clients.

What is E-Verify?

E-Verify was launched in 1996 and is operated by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security in partnership with the Social Security Administration. It’s an internet-based system that compares the information provided on a Form I-9 with government records to add an extra level of verification to employment authorization.

At the moment, participation in E-Verify by employers is voluntary but must be used by federal contractors and subcontractors for all employees hired after November 6, 1986. The current administration has plans to roll out the system on a larger scale, however, and an increasing number of states are now requiring employers to use it.

Why we choose to use it

The Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 forbids employers from “knowingly hiring illegal workers”. This means all employers must verify the identity and work authorization of new workers in the U.S. by the information provided by a new employee on their I-9 form. E-Verify was designed to operate with speed and accuracy by electronically comparing the information on a Form I-9 with government records. By using this system, we can strengthen Form I-9 and immigration compliance, better helping us to make sure our client’s employees are legally authorized to work in the US.

What is the process?

Once a new employee has formally accepted an employment offer and completed a Form I-9 within three days of their start date, we’ll then send these details to E-Verify. We manage the entire process and don’t need any more information than we did before; the only change is that the SSN number on the I-9 form is now a mandatory step. Verification results can range from a few seconds to up to 23 federal government working days, but privacy protection laws mean that we won’t give any updates on an application while it’s still being processed.

We will only contact a client if we receive a result that means that the employee is not eligible to work in the U.S, though according to E-Verify, just 1.05% of cases result in this outcome. There is also a ‘tentative non-confirmation’ result which means that the information entered into the I-9 does not match government records.

This doesn’t necessarily mean that the employee is not eligible to work in the U.S, but we will then work with them further to confirm whether they want to contest the result or not. Due to restrictions, we cannot E-Verify existing employees so only employees who were onboarded on or after May 1, 2018 will be E-Verified. The system may not be used for pre-screening applicants before an offer of employment is made.

Our team is dedicated to providing the best possible levels of service, security, and workforce solutions to our clients. The introduction of E-Verify is an important part of this process. If you’d like to find out more you can visit the Department of Homeland Security and USCIS website or get in touch with your PGC contact.