USCIS E-Verify

Immigration Lawyers: USCIS E-Verify

One of the problems faced by companies that employ foreign-born workers is verifying employment eligibility. Newly hired employees may present fraudulent documents, stolen identity cards, or cards lent to them by a family member or friend. It can sometimes be difficult to know whether the person pictured in the photo is actually the employee.

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The United States Citizenship and Immigration Service, (USCIS) has launched an identification photo screening tool as part of its employment eligibility verification or E-Verify program, which was formerly known as the Basic Pilot program or SAVE.

The new photo-screening tool uses biometrics to check the photo on a newly hired employee’s Employment Authorization Document (EAD) or Permanent Resident Card (Green Card) against the 14.8 million images stored in the Department of Homeland Security immigration databases.

Free, Voluntary, and Online
The CIS E-Verify program is an Internet-based system that allows participating employers to electronically verify the name, date of birth and social security numbers of their newly hired employees. The free, voluntary program is operated by the DHS in cooperation with the Social Security Administration. The goals of E-Verify are to help employers maintain a legal workforce and protect jobs for U.S. workers.

Some users report that E-Verify is easier to use than the existing I-9 paperwork system, but the system has not been without its problems. The photo-screening tool seeks to address a major concern by helping to screen out the use of stolen identities by undocumented workers.

To discuss whether using CIS E-Verify is right for your firm, please contact an immigration attorney at NPZ Law Group For further information on E-Verify, please review the DHS E-Verify Fact Sheet.

Why Do You Use Self Check?
Self Check is a fast, free and voluntary service that allows you to check your employment eligibility in the United States. Users can check the accuracy of their employment eligibility records and get information on how to fix any errors they might find. A Service of E-Verify, Self Check was launched in a limited number of states in March 2011. Since then, more than 50,000 people have used it.

In the coming months, we’re preparing to make Self Check available nationwide. To help us ensure that our service is as good as it can be, we invite those of you who have already used Self Check to share your experiences, observations and recommendations. To do so, please email us at everifyselfcheck@dhs.gov with the subject line, “Why I Used Self Check.” You can also post feedback here in the comments section.

We’re particularly interested in finding out why you used Self-Check, and whether your experience was positive or negative. What worked well for you and what didn’t? We’ll read your comments and, in a future post, highlight a few of your stories.

For those of you not already using Self Check, think about the benefits of using it. Employers are using E-Verify more and more to confirm the employment eligibility of their new hires. Wouldn’t you like to know whether you would be work authorized by E-Verify and if there are any errors in your record before your new boss does? Self Check allows you to do that! For more information, please visit the Self Check website at https://www.uscis.gov/selfcheck

MONITORING AND COMPLIANCE
E-Verify observes system use to help users comply with the E-Verify Memorandum of Understanding, E-Verify Manuals, Form I-9 instructions, and applicable laws. E-Verify does not fine employers but may refer cases of suspected misuse, abuse, and/or fraud to appropriate agencies. Additionally, Monitoring and Compliance: