E-Verify Update: Applicability of Contractor Rule Extended; USCIS Issues Reminder; Nebraska Governor Signs Bill
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has postponed to June 30, 2009, the effective date of a rule that will require federal contractors and subcontractors to begin using the E-Verify system to verify the work authorization of new hires. USCIS said the extension will provide an opportunity to review the entire rule before it applies to federal contractors and subcontractors.
USCIS issued a reminder that the revised Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification (rev. 02/02/09), went into effect on April 3, 2009, for all U.S. employers. The revision date is printed on the lower right-hand corner of the form.
Meanwhile, Nebraska Governor Dave Heineman signed a bill on April 8, 2009, to require public employers and those receiving state or local contracts or tax incentives (including subcontractors) to use E-Verify for newly hired employees effective October 1. The bill also prohibits undocumented persons from receiving state and local public benefits.
Michael Aytes, USCIS Acting Deputy Director, noted in testimony on April 2, 2009, that over 117,000 employers are enrolled in E-Verify, representing over 456,000 locations. He said that an average of 1,000 employers enroll each week and participation has more than doubled each fiscal year since 2007. Employers have run over 3.6 million queries thus far in fiscal year (FY) 2009, Mr. Aytes noted, adding that the volume of queries doubled from FY 2007 to FY 2008 from 3.27 million to 6.6 million, and that according to an analysis of Bureau of Labor Statistics data, over 14 percent of all nonagricultural new hires in the U.S are run though E-Verify.
- USCIS Announcement (PDF) – extending the E-Verify contractor rule
- I-9 reminder (PDF)
- Handbook for Employers (PDF)
