E-Verify

July 17, 2012
Integrated General Counsel

 U.S. law requires companies to employ only individuals who may legally work in the United States – either U.S. citizens, or foreign citizens who have the necessary authorization. This diverse workforce contributes greatly to the vibrancy and strength of our economy, but that same strength also attracts unauthorized employment.

E-Verify is an Internet-based system managed by the Federal Department of Homeland Security that allows businesses to determine the eligibility of their employees to work in the United States. E-Verify is instant, free and the way employers can ensure a legal workforce.
Executive Order 12989 Amendment
On June 11, 2008, President George W. Bush amended Executive Order 12989 to direct all executive departments and agencies to require contractors to electronically verify employment authorization of employees performing work under qualifying federal contracts. U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) designated E-Verify as the electronic employment eligibility verification system that all federal contractors must use to comply with the amended Executive order 12989.

Currently 9 states require E-Verify for most or all employee’s.

E-Verify compares the information an employee provides on Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, against millions of government records and generally provides results in three to five seconds. If the information matches, that employee is eligible to work in the United States. If there’s a mismatch, E-Verify will alert the employer and the employee will be allowed to work while he or she resolves the problem.

Employers must register to use the E-Verify website, or they can pay a service provider to do the verifications through the site for them. The E-Verify contact information is: www.dhs.gov/E-Verify or 888-464-4218.

The author, Ursula Behiel , is a District Sales manager at Ovation Payroll.  She provides payroll solutions to small and medium-sized businesses.  For more information, go to www.ovationpayroll.com.

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