Comments on: E-Verify: Is it about to die?

By: Gretchen

Gretchen — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 15:48:37 +0000

To Iona – Thanks for looking out for me, but actually, I am NOT using it as a screening tool (specifically because I am not allowed) – but I need something else to do that. That’s my problem.

By: Gretchen

Gretchen — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 15:44:41 +0000

The main problem I have with E-Verify is that is does not allow you to verify if a person is legal to work until AFTER you have hired him or her. It takes a long time and a lot of effort to go through our application process, and if after all the time and energy and resources are spent on this applicant we find out he or she is illegal, it was all for nothing! It seems more logical to use it to verify their eligibility BERFORE we go through the hiring process, doesn’t it?

By: Ralph

Ralph — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 00:17:29 +0000

Unfortunatly, congress took their “fall break”, without making much progress on this renewal. The way I understand it, this bill is being held up by one person, a Senator Menendez, of N.J. He is supposedly using an “archaic” tactic to hold up this bill. So, I believe E-verify is in serious trouble. Senator Menedez has been holding up this bill as a tactic to extract approval of additional visas for foreign workers as a price for releasing this “hold”. How one person can do this, I have no idea.

By: Debi G

Debi G — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 21:01:22 +0000

TO Joyce: I used the BSO service before I began using the E-Verify. I have over 15 years in HR and have come accross several people using someone elses Social Security number along with the correct name and date of birth. The BSO just confirms the Social information. The E-Verify also uses DHS information as well. So if the Social information matches it will “pend” in DHS until it is confirmed. For example: The persons information matches for Social Security but the information was not updated for DHS. It will pend and the employee must contact DHS to correct or update the information they need. The employer just provides the form for the employee. They do NOT term them unless the employee never returns (Hum.. why) or are informed by the Government Agency (SSA or DHS) that you are required to do so. E-Verify is a great tool to use. We are also close to the Border. In Arizona it was required the enroll in E-Verify. I was enrolled and using it way before that. Go to the web site and check it out yourself. As long as I have been using it I have only had one employee that never returned after I gave him the paperwork to take to the Agency requesting further documentation from the employee.

By: Ginny Priborsky

Ginny Priborsky — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 20:09:21 +0000

I have been using E Verify for over 3 years. It takes away all of the guess work in determining if documents presented are valid or not. Being close to the border you would be surprised at the amount of fake IDs that look real until they are run through the program. For the first time in my 20+ years in HR I am comfortable in knowing that we are hiring only employees who are authorized to work in the United States.

By: Joyce

Joyce — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 17:26:58 +0000

The SSA has a Business Services Online (BSO) service, that you can enroll in and check name, SSN, date of birth, and gender, post offer. If the info does not verify, you can talk to the new hrie about it, check for typos, or name in wrong order, etc., and if not resolved, ask them to go to the local SS office and check into the discrepancy and bring back proof and corrections. I have this procedure posted in all applicant areas. My experience has been that they don’t come back, and if they did, I would immediately put them to work. It does not prevent them from using someone else’s ID however, if they have all the information exactly correct that they give you. The sad part is that by that point, I already have 6-8 hours invested in this new hire. We use a 3rd party payroll processor, and sometimes bad info. will not process in their system, because they screen numbers from Soc. Sec. published lists of numbers in use. The BSO is part of E-verify, but you don’t have to enlist in E-verify to use this service. Our professional HR organization does not endorse E-verify because of an alledged rate of inaccuracies. I have noted with interest all the previous comments in favor of it. Hum…

By: Iona

Iona — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 21:55:25 +0000

TO Gretchen from your statement it seems you are using E-Verify as a screening tool? One of the rules of the program is that we are not allowed to use post hire.

On another note the program is great at ensuring those who try to use fake ss numbers are notified at time of hire that they have been found out, thus helping us to employ those that have a right to work in the US

By: Debi G

Debi G — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 21:47:10 +0000

To “John”

What system is not flawed in some way? I have been using the E-Verify system for over two years now and have not seen any problems. If the information provided to the employer is correct there is not an issue. If it is incorrect (i.e. name does not match, SS# is not correct, or DHS cannot verify) the employee (whom you have not fired) is required to present the paperwork to the govenment agency requesting verification. It will then be signed off on by that govenment agency and returned to the employer. The employer is not responsible for the incorrect information unless they terminate the employee based on it before the employee is able to attempt to clear it up or the employer entered the information incorrect.
I agree with “Gay L. Kennedy”. It can help the employees that are legal. If they had not provided their citizenship certificate when they became a citizen to the SS office and the employer enters them in the system as a citizen, it will be returned with the letter for the employee to contact the SS office but the DHS clears their side. The employee sometimes is unaware that they were suppose to provide the information to SS.
I think E-Verify is a great tool and should be kept.

By: Kenneth Young

Kenneth Young — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 12:35:36 +0000

What would make the tool better is to change the rules for usage. Restrictions from using for employees hired prior to enrolling in the system is what I don’t understand. Why not allow us to run everyone through once just to “check” – same verification process to not trample on individual rights would apply – again, protecting those who have nothing to hide.

By: John

John — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 12:23:04 +0000

Most of what I read indicates that E-Verify is flawed providing too high a percentage of inaccurate results. That only leaves more room for discrimination claims. I believe the newly proposed program could be a better solution and should be given a fair chance to prove itself. E-Verify has not proven itself reliable to a high enough percentage.