As Forbes has reported, US Immigration & Customs Enforcement has begun visiting the work sites of foreign students with employment authorization based on STEM degrees and employment with E-Verify employers (commonly known as “STEM OPT”). While authority to conduct such site visits was part of regulations issued more than 3 years ago, during the
E-Verify
E-Verify Resumes Operations
During the government shutdown, lasting from December 22, 2018 through January 25, 2019, employers were required to complete and retain Form I-9, Eligibility Employment Verification, for each individual hired during the shutdown, even though E-Verify services were unavailable. However, it was recently announced that E-Verify resumed operations on January 28, 2019 and participating employers have…
New Form I-9 to be Published July 17, 2017
U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services (“USCIS”) is scheduled to release a revised Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, on July 17, 2017. The previous version, dated 11/14/16 N, remains valid, but only through September 17, 2017. On September 18, 2017, employers must use the new form.
The new form changes the name of the Office of…
Travel Ban FAQs
The President’s Executive Order, commonly called the “travel ban”, has raised many questions. We answer the most frequently asked questions below, and will update them as additional information becomes available.
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What Businesses Can Expect from Trump’s Immigration Agenda
Donald Trump’s statements about the U.S. immigration system were a main feature of his presidential campaign. Now that he has been elected, many are questioning whether and how those statements might become actual policies.
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USCIS Provides E-Verify Guidance Following Government Shutdown
Employers enrolled in the E-Verify program were unable to access the E-Verify system during the recent government shutdown. While employers were still required to complete paper I-9s for new hires, they were not able to enter the data into the E-Verify system within the required three days. USCIS has issued guidance for E-Verify participants. The…
E-Verify Unavailable During the Government Shutdown
While the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) remains operating during the government shutdown, E-Verify services are not available. This means that companies cannot enroll in E-Verify, and those already enrolled cannot verify employment eligibility, make changes to an account, or run reports. The USCIS has provided limited guidance on their site.
Employers enrolled in…
USCIS Introduces E-Verify Self-Check System
USCIS has announced a voluntary service that allows members of the public to verify their employment eligibility in the United States. E-Verify Self Check may be useful to anyone who wishes to confirm that the government’s records about them are accurate, and to address any mismatches among Department of Homeland Security and Social Security Administration…
Anti-Fraud Enhancements to E-Verify Announced by DHS
DHS announced the expansion of the E-Verify system with regard to new hires presenting US passports and passport cards during the I-9 process identification and employment eligibility process. This new enhancement allows employers to instantly verify the validity and authenticity of US passport and passport cards, and is intended to strengthen the ability to detect…
New Puerto Rican Birth Certificates Affect I-9 Process
On July 1, 2010, the Vital Statistics Office of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico began issuing new, more secure Puerto Rican birth certificates to US Citizens born in Puerto Rico. As of October 1, 2010, all certified copies of Puerto Rican birth certificates issued prior to July 1, 2010, will no longer be valid. Accordingly, the Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issued a press release providing guidance to US employers with regard to the I-9 process. For new employees, employers may continue to accept all Puerto Rican birth certificates through September 30, 2010; after that date, only the new Puerto Rican birth certificates (issued on or after July 1, 2010) we be acceptable for I-9 purposes. Therefore, as of October 1, 2010, employers must pay close attention to the issuance date of Puerto Rican birth certificates presented for I-9 purposes.
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