USCIS Issues E-Verify Self-Assessment Guide

Recently, the Department of Homeland Security published The E-Verify Self-Assessment Guide for Direct Access Users (M-1044) or Web Services Users (M-1043). The Self-Assessment Guide is designed to assist participating employers in complying with the user requirements of E-Verify and to help improve participants’ overall use of the E-Verify program.

“Self-assessment demonstrates a company’s commitment to compliance by internally reviewing, detecting and preventing E-Verify misuse.” E-Verify Self-Assessment Guide, (M-1043 Rev. 06/2012), p. 1. Even employers who participate in E-Verify via a Designated Agent share the responsibility for their E-Verify program participation. The Self-Assessment Guide highlights many common mistakes such as:

• Creating duplicate cases for the same employee
• Verifying employees hired before November 7, 1986
• Immediately terminating employees who receive a Tentative Nonconfirmation
• Failure to submit a case by the third day of work for pay
• Submitting E-Verify cases for hires that pre-date E-Verify enrollment

See Id., p. 2. Insuring that employee rights are protected is one of USCIS’ top priorities. Participants are required to confirm that the Right to Work and E-Verify Participation posters are properly displayed. Participants are also repeatedly reminded to review E-Verify notices with the employee in private and to provide the notice in an alternative language if the employee requests it. (The notices are available in 17 alternative languages.) In addition, participants and users are instructed to take all appropriate measures to safeguard the employee’s personal data.

Furthermore, USCIS instructs employers to determine whether end users are following proper procedures. The Self-Assessment Guide continuously reminds employers of the importance of closing the E-Verify case. Employers are also instructed to confirm that notices are printed, signed, and maintained with the Form I-9 and periodically check to confirm that all cases are resolved.

Thus, Lookout Services strongly recommends that E-Verify participants use the Self-Assessment Guide to evaluate your implementation of the E-Verify program. Lookout Services’ customers are encouraged to use this in conjunction with the Lookout Services Companion to the Self-Assessment Guide found under the References section of our application.