Seyfarth Synopsis: On Friday, March 22, 2019, Seyfarth Shaw’s Immigration Compliance and Enforcement Group invites you to join the first webinar in our new Compliance Chatter Series: Inside E-Verify
While, following the federal government shutdown, E-Verify has returned to a modicum of normality, increasing audits and other government oversight
Continue Reading Upcoming Webinar: Compliance Chatter Series Part 1: Inside E-Verify
By: Dawn Lurie
Seyfarth Synopsis: The government has temporarily been reopened and E-Verify is back in business, at least until February 15th. The President and Congress have until that time to provide long term funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Our friends over at the Verification Division of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) have been very busy preparing for the onslaught of E-Verify activity that began early this morning, after the very long 35-day government shutdown. USCIS issued E-Verify guidance yesterday, January 28, 2019, outlining what employers need to do and when they need to do it. We expect additional guidance to be posted today in an effort to clarify some of the confusion caused by the government’s initial directives.
With all of those E-Verify queries sitting in cyberspace or on your desk, let’s start with the basics. Be warned – if you sleep easily at night without thoughts of E-Verify invading your dreams, this blog post is likely not for you.
Hopefully, during the 35 day shutdown you were able to follow the advice provided in Seyfarth’s previous blog Government Shutdown = E-Verify Shutdown. If so, your company has been stockpiling E-Verify queries while completing and retaining Forms I-9 in the requisite time frames. For those companies using electronic I-9 providers, your vendor should have been doing the same through their systems. Your vendor should also now be providing guidance on how to process those E-Verify queries queued up in their system, and should also be addressing the likely delays, backlogs and TNC related issues.
Continue Reading E-Verify Thawed: The Government Reopens but Guidance is Messy
Over the past few days, I’ve received a large number of emails and calls from stressed out clients asking about the lack of access to E-Verify. Do not panic, employers will not be penalized as a result of the E-Verify operations shutdown.
E-Verify is the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service’s (USCIS) internet-based system that compares information from an employee’s Form I-9 to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Social Security Administration (SSA) records to confirm employment eligibility.
Since E-Verify is not fee based, the current lapse in appropriated government funding affects the program. Employers will not be penalized for any delays in creating E-Verify cases. However, employers are reminded that they must continue to complete I-9s in compliance with the law, and when E-Verify becomes available, create cases in the E-Verify system. We expect USCIS to issue guidance—as they have during prior shutdowns— suspending the “three-day rule” which mandates creating a query within three day of starting work for pay, for any case affected cases. Historically, employees caught in the Tentative Nonconfirmation (TNC) process were also provided an extended period to resolve any issues; the same is expected this time.
Continue Reading Government Shut Down= E-Verify Shut Down
By Dawn M. Lurie and Greg Morano
In mid-April, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) introduced long awaited enhancements to the program as part of the new “modernized E-Verify system”. In fact, the overhaul is enormous in scope, the new system is entirely separate from the previous itineration of E-Verify. From a data storage location shift to reinforcement of the old infrastructure, the bones of the system are being reinforced. Employers will continue to maintain access to their old data while being able to open cases in the new system. The updates demonstrate USCIS’ continued focus on improving the system, which makes perfect sense in the face of a possible, nationwide, E-Verify mandate.
What is E-Verify
E-Verify is an internet based system that compares information from an employee’s Form I-9 to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Social Security Administration (SSA) records to confirm employment eligibility. Continuously improving, but not perfect, the system struggles with cracks in its armor especially when it comes to ensuring identity. However, one of the key benefits of E-Verify is that employers are provided a rebuttable presumption that there has been no violation of the statute, with regard to the knowing hiring of an unauthorized worker, if the employee’s information has been confirmed by the system. This is important in the context of a Form I-9 inspection.Continue Reading More than a Makeover: E-Verify Boast a New, Modernized Look Inside and Out
By: Mahsa AliaskariUpdate: At midnight the federal government shut down. We will keep employers updated as details of immigration related closings and the negotiations in Congress become available.
Seyfarth Synopsis: As we wait to hear the fate of yet another temporary extension to continue funding the government after midnight on Saturday January 20th – employers should know how a shutdown may impact processing of immigration petitions and immigration programs.Continue Reading Déjà vu – Government Shutdown and Impacts on Immigration