E-Verify is a system which employers in the United States can use to verify the work status of newly hired employees to confirm that they are legal. This system is free and voluntary for employers who wish to use it, with the exception of contract employers who hold government contracts, who are required to use E-Verify if they wish to continue to receiving government contracts. This system is designed to make it easier and faster for employers to confirm that their workers are legal, and to deter people who cannot work legally in the United States.
The United States initially developed this system in 1997 as the Basic Pilot/Employment Eligibility Program. It was set to expire in 2008, due to concerns about the potential impact of the system on the work climate in the United States. In September 2008, the system was extended, as it had received substantial support from members of the government as well as some employers.
All employers in the United States are required to verify that newly hired employees can work legally, with employees filling out a form I-9 within three days of employment along with providing proof of legal status, such as a Social Security Card and additional government identification card. Employers who use E-Verify still have to use these methods, but they can also enter data into the E-Verify system to confirm that it is correct, and that an employee can legally work.
The system is administered by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service, under the Department of Homeland Security and the Social Security Administration. To participate, employers register and take a brief tutorial before being allowed to use the system. By entering data such as names and Social Security numbers, the employers can look up new hires to determine whether or not they are eligible to work in the United States.
There are several restrictions on the E-Verify system. Employers can only use it after they have hired a new employee, not as a screening device for potential employees. They are also only allowed to use it for new hires, not existing employees. Legally, employers must notify employees when they use E-Verify to check on work and immigration status. Employees also have the right to challenge E-Verify results if they feel that they are erroneous. Errors do occur, and people who believe that they should be legally allowed to work in the United States should definitely challenge system mismatches which suggest that their work status may be in question.