Momentum builds for making ‘E-verify’ mandatory
May 15, 2008 by Jim GiulianoPosted in: Employment law, Hiring, Immigration, In this week's e-newsletter, Latest News & Views, Records documentation
States are falling in line to make it mandatory that employers use the federal online verification system to determine if new employees are eligible for employment in the United States.
While, at the moment, only seven states absolutely require private employers to use E-verify, others have introduced legislation that appears to have strong support. Plus, the President has made a strong appeal to Congress for more funding for the program.
Here’s what the state lineup looks like:
Requires the use of E-verify
AZ, AK, MS, GA, CO, OK, RI
“Encourages” the use of E-verify
TN, MO
Requires state agencies to use E-verify
ID, NC, PA, MN, UT, RI
Has legislation pending
CA, MN, PA, SC, TN, WV, IL, IN, IA, MO, RI, KS, NJ, CO, FL
What’s E-verify?
The E-verify program is a Web-based program run by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Citizenship and Immigration Services and the Social Security Administration. Employers can use the system to verify SSNs for employment authorization for all new employees.
In 2007, the number of employers participating in E-verify soared from 14,000 to 52,000. And President Bush has requested $100 million to support the expanded use of E-Verify program for fiscal year 2009.
E-verify can only be used for new hires and is not allowed to be used by an employer to verify work authorization for existing employees. Be aware that even if you use E-verify, you’ll still have to complete the I-9. Employers must submit the employee’s information to E-verify within three days of the hire date. The information can only be done online, not by fax or phone.
Click here to learn more about E-verify and how to use it.
Tags: congress, e-verify, epartment of homeland security, I-9, president bush, social security administration
May 19th, 2008 at 2:14 pm
Excellent program.
May 20th, 2008 at 6:39 pm
While not perfect we have not found it to be a burden in any way, the few no matches who were legal to work here were able to go in SS office and get the records staighten out, which was really a service to the employee too and eventually they will need it corrected when they retire. My payroll administrator finds it very easy to use.
Some of our Representatives and Senators need to get more familiar with it be fore they make their statements to the media.
July 14th, 2008 at 4:37 pm
This program is great, it takes the guess work out. It’s user friendly and quick. It would be a down right shame If we couldn’t use it anymore, It helps the employer by taking us out of the middle some what so to speak. When you get a no match just send them to the agency to get the problem corrected.
July 21st, 2008 at 11:19 am
I am confused. If President Bush has requested $100 million to keep this system going then
why are there so few states requiring employers to use E-Verify. We live in the USA don’t we?
It should be manditory. It is such a easy system.
October 16th, 2008 at 3:38 pm
Based on my (limited) research, I have found that the only states that require all employers to use E-verify are AZ, MS and SC. Is this incorrect? I have found conflicting information on various websites and would like to know the legal requirements. Thanks!
November 10th, 2008 at 11:04 am
Nicole N, you are correct. Colorado should not be on the list that requires private employers to use E-Verify. In this state, private employers have to use E-Verify only if they have a contract to do a job funded by the state. Otherwise, private employers only use E-Verify at their discretion.
November 19th, 2008 at 6:51 pm
Whether or not it has “Passed” requirement, I feel it would behove us HR personal and as US citizens
to use it. It ensures us that the personnel being hired are entitled to work in the USA. All legal immigrants will have an accurate set of Identification . This will help prevent fraud as well. I totally love it., It has helped a few empoyees who had some “issues” to be made aware of it and allowed them to clear the problem up. It has also prevented persons from being hired who should not be working until they receive proper documentation….Love IT…..
January 27th, 2010 at 5:05 pm
The e-verify program has worked very well for our company. Only two employees out of 20 or so have been required to visit the social security office; one had not changed her name after getting married and one we transposed the first and last name. We’ve had a couple who decided not to challenge the findings and were not allowed to work for us. The real problem is that we are not allowed to use it on all employees; not that I’m anxious for all the extra work it would create. Until we can use it to verify all employees status, I’d like all the anti-immigration fanatics to quit blaming employers for the problem. Once they were hired under the old system with documents that appeared normal, we could not challenge their citizenship status without discrimination lawsuits looming on the horizon. Either fix the problem for employers or leave us alone!
January 28th, 2010 at 3:15 pm
It has really helped our company! It is simple to use and we get immediate response. It sure helps to make it safe for the company as far as keeping legal people working. I love it and really hope that it is made mandatory
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