E-Verify is an electronic employment eligibility verification system administered by the federal government. It is voluntary for most employers, but is required to be used by federal contractors and is mandated by several states. In spite of its voluntary nature, many employers choose to use the system in addition to the required I-9 process in order to verify the work authorization of their employees. The E-Verify system has continually been improved since its inception with new capabilities regularly being added. Three recent add-ons are discussed below:
myE-Verify Now Available Nationwide
myE-Verify is a free, web-based service that provides individuals with self-service features to participate in the E-Verify process. The service is now available in all 50 states. The benefits of myE-Verify include the ability to lock the user’s Social Security number (SSN) to prevent anyone else from using it in E-Verify and Self Check. Individuals may also use Self Check to view their E-Verify account, enabling the individual to see exactly what a prospective employer will see when checking the individual’s record in E-Verify.
Additional features will be added to the service in the future, including:
- Document Expiration Reminders: Individuals will be able to set up alerts to receive a reminder email when a document (like a passport or driver’s license) is about to expire, so they can take steps to keep documents up-to-date.
- Case Tracker: This feature will allow individuals to track the status of an E-Verify or Self Check case that requires follow up. They will be able to see the status of the case progress and know if any action is required.
- Case History: Allows individuals to view where and when their information has been used in the E-Verify system. It allows users to monitor when their information is used and increases the transparency of the E-Verify system
E-Verify Self Check Available Nationwide: Employers Beware
Anyone in the United States over the age of 16 can now use Self Check to confirm his or her own employment eligibility record. After entering the requested information, Self Check compares it with various government records to determine work eligibility. Self Check lets individuals confirm that their employment eligibility information is in order by checking it against the same databases E-Verify uses when employers enter a case. If Self Check finds a data-mismatch, users will receive instructions on how to correct their records with the appropriate federal agency. Self Check gives individuals the chance to confirm or correct their records before they are checked by an employer.
NOTE: Employers cannot require employees or job applicants to use Self Check. Requiring applicants to provide proof of their employment authorization before establishing an employment relationship is known as “pre-screening” and it may constitute a violation of the antidiscrimination provision of the Immigration and Nationality Act.
E-Verify RIDE Program Expands Slow and Steady
Driver’s licenses and ID cards account for nearly 80 percent of the documents used as proof of identity by employees for E-Verify. The Records and Information from DMVs for E-Verify (RIDE) initiative is an enhancement to the E-Verify program that verifies the validity of driver’s license and ID card information by matching the data entered by employers against participating state motor vehicle department records. RIDE enables two-part verification by validating the information on select identity documents in addition to the existing employment authorization check. Mississippi, Florida, Idaho, Iowa, and Nebraska are now participating in the program. Employees presenting a Driver’s License from any of these states, will have the information in their licenses checked against the DMV database in that state. This additional check will be completed along with the other background data checks in E-Verify. If there is a discrepancy in the records, the employee will be instructed to have it corrected with the relevant DMV.