U.S. Federal Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification (E-Verify) Program Extended Until 2015

On September 13, 2012, the U.S. Congress passed S. 3245, a bill that includes an extension by three years of the authorization for the federal E-Verify Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification Program until September 30, 2015. E-Verify, which was due to expire on September 30, 2012, allows U.S. employers to verify the work authorization of newly hired employees. This bill goes to President Obama next for him to sign.

E-Verify is a free internet-based system from the federal government that compares information from the ‘Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification’ that employers must complete for all newly-hired employees to verify their identity and authorization to work in the U.S. with records in Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Social Security Administration (SSA) databases. Started as a pilot program in 1996, the program went national in 2003 and was expanded and renamed E-Verify in 2007.

While E-Verify is voluntary for many employers, federal law mandates that federal contractors and subcontractors in all states use E-Verify and several U.S. states have also enacted laws mandating E-Verify use, creating a confusing patchwork of regulations for employers to follow. A Designated E-Verify Employer Agent such as Employment Screening Resources (ESR) can help employers with Form I-9 and E-Verify compliance. To learn more, visit http://www.esrcheck.com/formi9.php.

Visit esrcheck.com for more information.