Complying with employee eligibility law can be a headache; considering the constant adjustments to U.S. regulations and legislation elevates it to a migraine. Aspects of a company’s Form I-9 process can be within compliance one year, yet violate regulations the next. Many employers are unaware of the tools available to ease this stress and cure those headaches, particularly E-Verify.
Background
The Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 (IRCA) is the inception for the Form I-9. IRCA “prohibits employers from hiring and employing an individual for employment in the U.S. knowing that the individual is not authorized with respect to such employment.” To prove this authorization, U.S. employers are required to record and retain information regarding their workforce on the Form I-9.
To combat ineligible employment, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) created the E-Verify web-based service.
E-Verify allows employers to submit potential employee information for comparison with government databases. Complex algorithms provide results indicating whether an individual is authorized for U.S. employment or not. Utilizing E-Verify, correctly, will tremendously reduce instances of unintentionally hiring ineligible employees.
Here are a few more reasons to consider E-Verify enrollment…
1. Improved compliance with E-Verify
The federal government has received a renewed passion for enforcing regulation at worksites, aiming to decrease illegal immigration by targeting employers who practice illegal hiring.
Any technical or procedural violations discovered by ICE can add up to a pretty penny and prove costly for a company. Correctly utilizing E-Verify helps employers ensure their workforce is authorized for U.S. employment.
2. E-Verify is required in specific situations
Not every company must enroll and participate in E-Verify, but it is mandatory for specific situations. Certain employers designated as a federal contractor, or competing for federal contracts, are required to enroll in E-Verify.
A few states have enacted legislation requiring E-Verify participation for some employers, both public and private. Please click here for a map detailing state by state E-Verify legislation.
3. Potential to become mandatory
With the current administration pushing for increased immigration laws and enforcement, some experts predict E-Verify may become mandatory nationwide.
Signing up now gives employers an opportunity to become familiar with and adapt to the system. If new legislation mandates companies to use E-Verify, employers who enrolled already can focus on other priorities, as they are two steps ahead of the rest.
4. Peace of mind
E-Verify takes the burden of detecting fraudulent work documents away from an employer, not only allowing companies to divert time and resources elsewhere but also providing an unparalleled peace of mind.
Whether you’re a small business or a multimillion-dollar operation, federal immigration regulations apply to your U.S. based company. Participating in E-Verify offers employers a simple solution to employee eligibility verification.
About Form I-9 Compliance, LLC
Form I-9 Compliance provides employers with simple solutions to help attain legal compliance through our comprehensive suite of services, which include I-9 Auditing, Electronic I-9, E-Verify and Consulting solutions.
Additionally, we staff a dedicated support team for hands-on assistance and supply educational resources, such as complimentary webinars, to keep our clients informed of and adapting to an ever-changing landscape of compliance policies. Our executive team is uniquely positioned to materially assist employers in maximizing the benefits and cost savings inherent with electronic Form I-9 processing.
