What's New Archive
Update to RIDE
Florida is the newest state to join the Records and Information from DMVs for E-Verify (RIDE) Program. RIDE helps to reduce document fraud and boosts the accuracy of E-Verify employment verifications. On June 13, 2011, USCIS launched RIDE. This feature allows the E-Verify Program to validate the authenticity of driver’s licenses presented by employees as Form I-9 identity documents. Mississippi was the first state to partner with USCIS to implement RIDE.
Learn more about Driver’s License Verification.
New E-Verify Questions and Answers
E-Verify has redesigned Questions and Answers! The new Questions and Answers provide information to current participants that specifically relates to their role with E-Verify and important topics that may affect their organization. In addition, this new resource includes frequently asked questions and information that is needed before you enroll in E-Verify.
New Employee Rights Webinar for Worker Advocates
The new employee rights webinar will help you help others to understand their rights in the Form I-9 and E-Verify processes. USCIS and the DOJ Civil Rights Division are co-presenters of this free live webinar that explains employee rights and employer responsibilities in the employment eligibility verification process. This webinar also includes a review of Self Check and materials to educate and assist workers. Don’t forget to view and download the creative resources in the Employee Rights Toolkit to share with those you serve.
Workers and job seekers are welcome to attend too.
Tuesday, November 13, 2012 at 2:00 PM EST Attend Session
Thursday, November 15, 2012 at 2:00 PM EST Attend Session
Spanish Language I-9 Central Website Launch
USCIS launched the Spanish language version of I-9 Central. This is a free, user-friendly website that allows employees and employers to access Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, and the updated “Handbook for Employers: Instructions for Completing Form I-9 (M-274).” The website provides crucial resources and tips to assist with the employment eligibility processes, and will serve as a valuable resource to the USCIS’ multilingual customer base.
New Employee Rights Toolkit for workers
To increase awareness about employee rights in the employment eligibility process, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has released a helpful new online resource - the Employee Rights Toolkit for workers and worker advocates. This toolkit compiles a variety of educational materials such as employee rights videos, informative fliers, brochures, and posters. It also contains information about USCIS Multilingual Engagements and guidance on avoiding immigration scams, or the Unauthorized Practice of Immigration Law. Most of the materials are available in English and Spanish. View the entire toolkit online and download it today! Please share the information on the toolkit with your community. Add the toolkit link to your website. You can also order a free E-Verify Employee Rights Toolkit on DVD/CD.
The New Edition of E-Verify Connection is Now Available
Issue 10 of E-Verify Connection is available and contains exciting and informative news such as:
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A sneak-peek of the I-9 Central Website in Spanish,
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Information on the new Employee Rights Toolkit,
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Useful tips on how to reduce tentative non-confirmations (TNCs)
Showing Work Authorization with Form I-94
The Form I-94, Arrival-Departure Record, is a document that can show that you are allowed to work in the United States. Currently, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) may take up to 45 days after you arrive in the United States to put your Form I-94 information into its system. E-Verify uses this system to help confirm you are authorized to work. If your employer uses E-Verify, you may choose to present your unexpired foreign passport along with your unexpired Form I-94 when you and your employer complete the Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, during the 45-day period. Doing this may help avoid a delay in completing your E-Verify processing. For more information, please see the CBP website or call CBP at (877) CBP-5511 or TTD: (866) 880-6582.
Continue to Use the Current Form I-9 for Employment Eligibility Verification
Until further notice, employers should continue using the Form I-9 currently available on the forms section of http://www.uscis.gov. This form should continue to be used even after the OMB control number expiration date of August 31, 2012 has passed. USCIS will provide updated information about the new version of the Form I-9 as it becomes available.
Employers must complete Form I-9 for all newly-hired employees to verify their identity and authorization to work in the United States.
New Edition of E-Verify Connection Available
Don’t miss Issue 9 of E-Verify Connection! Learn about E-Verify Listens, new E-Verify Existing User Webinar, the new lists of E-Verify Employers and Federal Contractors, customized webinars for Florida and Georgia, the new M-274 Handbook for Employers in Spanish, and more. You can also find out when we will be in a city near you in our Outreach section!
Handbook for Employers (M-274) Now in Spanish
USCIS has published a Spanish version of the helpful M-274 Handbook for Employers. Previously this handbook was only available in English. Now in an effort to better serve our customers, USCIS has added the Handbook for Employers in Spanish to its list of foreign language resources.
Just like the English Version, the Spanish M-274 Handbook for Employers (insert link) gives guidance to employers on how to properly complete the Form I-9, (Employment Eligibility Verification Form), and includes a questions and answers section. Visit I-9 Central to view the new Spanish M-274 Handbook for Employers.
E-Verify Listens Wants to Hear From You
USCIS has launched E-Verify Listens, which is a new, free online forum where you can express your ideas about how to improve E-Verify. For the next 6 months, forum members can up-vote or down-vote each other’s ideas. Top ideas will get noticed by E-Verify staff and taken into consideration when improvements are made to E-Verify. Registration is quick, so go to E-Verify Listens today to start sharing your brilliant ideas.
E-Verify has upgraded the presentation that is used during the Existing User Webinar! The new and improved presentation helps you maximize your use of E-Verify’s easy-to-use features, correct common mistakes, prevent avoidable TNCs and use best practices.
Join an E-Verify Existing User Webinar to learn more from one of our E-Verify experts or download the presentation today for self-guided education.
Just Released – E-Verify Self-Assessment Guides
USCIS is pleased to give our customers a resource to support their compliant use of E-Verify. Take advantage of these useful tools and begin using the new Self-Assessment Guide for E-Verify Direct Access Users or the Self-Assessment Guide for E-Verify Web Services Users today!
Changes to Form I-797C, Notice of Action
On April 2, 2012, USCIS began issuing a new version of Form I-797C, Notice of Action, on plain bond paper rather than on secure paper. USCIS issues Form I-797C to acknowledge that USCIS has received an application, petition, or other document filed at a USCIS Service Center. If you have filed an application to replace a lost, stolen, or damaged document issued by DHS found on list A or C (e.g., Permanent Resident Card (Form I-551); Employment Authorization Document (Form I-766)), USCIS will issue Form I-797C after accepting the filing. The new version of Form I-797C prominently displays the statement “THIS NOTICE DOES NOT GRANT ANY IMMIGRATION STATUS OR BENEFIT.” Notwithstanding this statement, a Form I-797C receipt notice for the application to replace a lost, stolen, or damaged document continues to be an acceptable receipt for Form I-9 purposes for 90 days. For more information about the new Form I-797C, please click here.
New Edition of E-Verify Connection is Now Available
The March 2012 issue of E-Verify Connection brings you updates about E-Verify’s new Employer’s List, Tips on the Form I-9 and Receipts, Excellence in Government awarded to Self Check as well as the Self Check going nationwide. Just to name a few of the exciting articles in this edition. Read Issue 7 of E-Verify Connection today!
Now Available: E-Verify Employer Lists
Who are the 345,000+ employers enrolled in E-Verify? Now, the lists of E-Verify employers and federal contractors are conveniently available on the E-Verify website.
The E-Verify Employers and Federal Contractors Lists provide the business name, city, state and ZIP code used during registration with E-Verify. They also indicate which businesses are federal contractors and provide other information such as workforce size. Click here to see these lists.
These lists cover employers and federal contractors enrolled in E-Verify through March 15, 2012. The federal contractors list is self-reported and consists of employers who say their federal contract has the E-Verify FAR clause.
USCIS Seeking Public Comment on Revisions to Form I-9
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) published a notice in the Federal Register on March 27, 2012,inviting public comment on several revisions to Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification. The revisions to Form I-9include:
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Changes to Section 1
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Expanded instructions
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Revised layout
Self Check National Launch
The public is invited to comment until May 29, 2012, on the revisions under consideration. For more information, see the USCIS Update. USCIS will post information regarding any new version of Form I-9 on I-9 Central. Until a new version is approved and posted, employers must continue to use the current version of the form.
USCIS announces the nationwide launch of Self Check, the free online service that allows individuals in the United States to check their own employment eligibility. This fast, free, voluntary, and secure service is now available in English and Spanish to all 50 States, U.S. territories, and the District of Columbia. See the USCIS press release here.
Visit the new Self Check webpage to use Self Check and view the demo. Review the updated Self Check Information Tool Kit to see how you can inform others about this great tool for job seekers and others.
CNMI Webinars
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will conduct three webinars in March to inform employers and workers residing in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) about Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification. There will also be a question and answer period, and a brief review of E-Verify. CNMI employers may now enroll in E-Verify.
Every employer and agricultural recruiter/referrer-for-a-fee must complete a Form I-9 for each individual hired for employment in the United States, as required by federal law. All new employees are required to present proof of employment eligibility and identity to employers during the Form I-9 process. Employers and workers should visit the I-9 Central Web section at www.uscis.gov/I-9Central for more information on Form I-9.
As of November 28, 2011, employers in the CNMI must use the standard Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification when hiring individuals for employment in the CNMI and for reverification. Employers can no longer use the Form I-9 CNMI, which was temporarily used in the CNMI.
Please follow the link to check out the upcoming webinar dates.
E-Verify Now Available in the CNMI
Employers in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) may now enroll in E-Verify. E-Verify can verify the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees, including employees with CNMI-Only Transitional Worker (CW-1) or E-2 CNMI Investor (E-2C) nonimmigrant statuses. Enrolling in E-Verify is easy. The E-Verify website has a variety of resources to help you prepare. Visit the Getting Started page of the E-Verify website to explore enrollment resources. The Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) page on I-9 Central provides additional Form I-9 guidance for employers hiring individuals in the CNMI.
Employees from El Salvador with Expiring EADs May Still Be Authorized to Work
Employees from El Salvador who have Temporary Protected Status (TPS) have had their employment authorizations automatically extended until September 9, 2012, even if the employees have not yet obtained a new Employment Authorization Document (EAD). Please visit I-9 Central What's New section for detailed information.
Additional Translated Sample TNC Letters and Referral Notices are Now Available
E-Verify continues to expand its resources to support effective employer – employee communication of the E-Verify tentative nonconfirmation (TNC) and referral processes. In addition to the 9 languages already offered, the TNC notices and referral letters are now available in 4 new languages which include:
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Carolinian
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Chamorro
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Marshallese
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Palauan
To see the completed list of TNC notices and Referral letters please visit our Foreign Language Resources section.
IMPORTANT: If you need to provide your employee with a notice or letter in a language other than English or Spanish you should:
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Ensure your employee receives a copy of the pre-populated English version of the notice or letter along with the requested foreign language document
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Only sign the English version of the notice and letter
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Treat the foreign language notices and letters as tools to help employees who have difficulty speaking or reading English they should NOT be filled out.
New Form I-9 Guidance Available for Employers Who Hire Individuals from the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and Palau
Please visit the new Federated States of Micronesia, Republic of the Marshall Islands, and Palau page on I-9 Central for information for employers who hire individuals from the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and Palau.
Employees from Honduras or Nicaragua with Expiring EADs May Still Be Authorized to Work
Employees from Honduras or Nicaraguawho have Temporary Protected Status(TPS) have had their employment authorizations automatically extended until July 5, 2012, even if the employees have not yet obtained a new Employment Authorization Document (EAD). For detailed information please visit our I-9 Central What's New Archive page.
The latest edition is now online! Want to see if Self Check is available in your state, see what’s new on I-9 Central, or learn how E-Verify protects your privacy? Check out E-Verify Connection. Are you interested in attending a FREE Spanish-language seminar on E-Verify employee rights and responsibilities, or taking a FREE Webinar? Find out about all this and more in Issue 5 of E-Verify Connection.
Employees from Sudan or South Sudan with Expiring EADs May Still Be Authorized to Work
How do I determine if an employee’s expiring EAD has been automatically extended?
To determine if an expiring EAD has been automatically extended, do the following:
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Look at the “Category” section on the expiring (or expired) EAD. If either A12 or C19 is listed, the employee is a TPS beneficiary. Next, look at the expiration date of the EAD. If the expiration date on the EAD is November 2, 2011, then the employee is a TPS beneficiary from Sudanor South Sudanand his or her employment authorization has been automatically extended. If a different category or expiration date is listed, then the employee is not a TPS beneficiary from Sudanor South Sudan, and the usual reverification rules apply.
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Employees from Sudanor South Sudan with TPS have had their EADs automatically extended until May 2, 2012. Until then, the employees remain authorized to work and are not required to present a new card.(1) For Section 1, you should:
How do my employer and I complete Form I-9 (i.e., verification) using an automatically extended EAD for a new job?
When using an automatically extended EAD to fill out Form I-9 for a new job prior to May 2, 2012, you and your employer should do the following:
(1) For Section 1, you should:
a. Check “An alien authorized to work;”
b. Write your alien number (A-number) in the first space (your EAD or other document from DHS will have your A-number printed on it); and
c. Write the automatic extension date in the second space.
(2) For Section 2, employers should:
a. Record the document title;
b. Record the document number; and
c. Record the automatically extended EAD expiration date.
After May 2, 2012, employers must reverify the employee’s employment authorization in Section 3 of Form I-9.
What corrections should my employer and I at my current job make to Form I-9 if my EAD has been automatically extended?
If you are an existing employee who presented an EAD that was valid when you first started your job, but that EAD has now been automatically extended, you and your employer should correct your previously completed Form I-9 as follows:
(1) For Section 1, you should:
a. Draw a line through the expiration date in the second space;
b. Write May 2, 2012, above the previous date;
c. Write “EAD Ext.” in the margin of Section 1; and
d. Initial and date the correction in the margin of Section 1.
(2) For Section 2, employers should:
a. Draw a line through the expiration date written in Section 2;
b. Write May 2, 2012, above the previous date;
c. Write “EAD Ext.” in the margin of Section 2; and
d. Initial and date the correction in the margin of Section 2.
After May 2, 2012, when the automatic extension of EADs expires, employers must reverify the employee’s employment authorization in Section 3.
If I am an employer enrolled in E-Verify, what do I do when I receive a “Work Authorization Documents Expiring” alert for an automatically extended EAD?
If you are an employer who participates in E-Verify, you will receive a “Work Authorization Documents Expiring” case alert when an employee’s EAD is about to expire. Usually, this message is an alert to complete Section 3 of Form I-9 to reverify an employee’s employment authorization. For existing employees with EADs that have been automatically extended, employers should dismiss the E-Verify case alert and follow the instructions above explaining how to correct Form I-9. After May 2, 2012, employment authorization needs to be reverified in Section 3. You should never use E-Verify for reverification.
For more general information about completing or updating Form I-9, consult the Handbook for Employers: Instructions for Completing Form I-9 (M-274).
On October 26, DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano testified before Congress on how USCIS has continued to improve E-Verify's accuracy and efficiency, enhance customer service, and reduce fraud and misuse. Click here to view the entire testimony.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has redesigned the Employment Authorization Document (Form I-766) to ensure a more secure document. The new security features include:
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Greater detail in the photograph which makes it easier to identify the cardholder.
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Ultra-violet technology and tactile clues allowing accurate card authentication.
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Return address on the back of the card that acts as a security feature and a way to easily return a lost card to USCIS.
Employers should note that the employee’s alien registration number, commonly known as the A#, is found under the USCIS # heading on the front of the card.
See the Handbook for Employers for examples of earlier versions of the Employment Authorization Document that are still acceptable for Form I-9 purposes.
The redesign of the Employment Authorization Document demonstrates our commitment to producing secure documents. For more information, visit the USCIS website.
DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano has designated the new Republic of South Sudan for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for 18 months and extended the current TPS designation of Sudan for the same period. The designation and extension are both effective Nov. 3, 2011, and will continue throughMay 2, 2013. The announcement of the Secretary’s decisions will be published in the Federal Register on Oct. 13, 2011.
Current TPS beneficiaries have also been granted an automatic six-month extension of their Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) issued under the last extension of Sudan TPS, meaning they will now expire on May 2, 2012. Any individual who has a valid TPS Sudan EAD is covered by this automatic extension, even though USCIS may ultimately register the person under the South Sudan TPS designation and issue a new EAD with his or her new nationality.
Individuals seeking to obtain or maintain their TPS must file their application packages during the 180-day registration period, from Oct. 13, 2011, through April 10, 2012. This approximately six-month registration period is the same for both the TPS Sudan extension and the designation of South Sudan.
The latest version of the Right to Work poster is online. Department of Justice, Office of Special Counsel updated the English and Spanish versions of the poster. We’ve posted them on the Publications page. Be sure to display the latest posters.
Print version of Handbook for Employers (M-274) now available
USCIS has published a limited number of magazine-style color copies of the Handbook for Employers: Instructions for Completing Form I-9 (M-274) Rev. 06/01/11 N. You may order free copies online or by phone.
To order copies online:
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Go to the Forms by Mail page on the USCIS website.
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If you agree to the terms of use, click Next.
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Click on the drop-down menu in the first field and select “M-274 Handbook for employers.”
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To the left of the title, choose from the drop-down menu the quantity you wish to order. You may order up to five packages of five copies each.
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Enter your name and address.
To order by phone, call the USCIS Forms Request Line toll-free at 1-800-870-3676. Copies will be sent to you via U.S. Postal Service.
Self Check is now available in Spanish and is expanded to residents of 21 states and the District of Columbia. Self Check, a free, E-Verify service, allows workers to check their own employment eligibility status online.
Self Check is now available to individuals who maintain addresses in: Arizona; California; Colorado; Idaho; Louisiana; Maine; Maryland; Massachusetts; Minnesota; Mississippi; Missouri; Nebraska; Nevada; New Jersey; New York; Ohio; South Carolina; Texas; Utah; Virginia; Washington; and the District of Columbia.
Self Check gives workers the same access to their employment eligibility status that employers have with E-Verify. Self Check enables workers to use the same information that employers enter into E-Verify, and checks against the same databases that E-Verify checks.
Read the news release.
Read the fact sheet.
The latest edition is now online! Want to see the new Self Check logo, access the new Federal Contractor flyer, learn more about E-Verify’s latest enhancements, such as Driver’s License verification? Check out E-Verify Connection. Are you interested in subscribing for I-9 Central, E-Verify and Self Check website updates, or request a customized webinar? Find out about all this and more in Issue 4 of E-Verify Connection.
E-Verify Can Now Check Driver’s Licenses – Mississippi is the first state to partner
New E-Verify enhancements include a driver’s license check capability. Mississippi is the first state to make its driver’s license data available to E-Verify. The partnership, developed in concert with the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators, is known as Records and Information from DMVs for E-Verify (RIDE). See the USCIS Press Release or our Fact Sheet to learn more.
Latest E-Verify Enhancement Released – Ease of Use Enhancements
The latest enhancements of E-Verify features many customer focused improvements. This includes added help text, password selection guidelines, and other user interface enhancements. E-Verify now includes help text items that provide ready answers to user questions. There is also a new streamlined enrollment and user registration process. Log into E-Verify today!
Effective May 23, 2011, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) extended the designation of Haiti for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for 18 months, from the current expiration date of July 22, 2011 to January 22, 2013. Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) set to expire on July 22, 2011 will be automatically extended for six months until January 22, 2012. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will issue new EADs with a January 22, 2013 expiration date to eligible TPS beneficiaries who timely re-register and apply for an EAD. For more information regarding the 18-month Haiti TPS Extension, please click here, refer to 76 FR 29000 (Extension Announcement), 76 FR 29777 (EAD Extension) or call the USCIS TPS Hotline at 1-202-272-1533 (not a toll free number).
For more information, visit the I-9 Central What's New page.
You can now find E-Verify web content in Spanish. Like www.dhs.gov/E-Verify, the E-Verify Spanish web pages are organized so visitors can easily find information that meets their specific needs. The E-Verify “Home”, “Contact”, “For Employees”, “For Employers”, “About the Program”, and “What is E-Verify” pages are now available in Spanish. Additional sections will be added soon. The E-Verify Spanish web pages will provide our Spanish-speaking community with an authoritative source of information about their rights and responsibilities and the E-Verify program and process. Visit the new www.dhs.gov/e-verify-espanol today.
E-Verify now has an easier way to request the free use of the E-Verify® Name and Logo. Download the online guidelines and learn how you can get started. E-Verify® is a registered trademark (Mark) with the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office. Unauthorized use of the E-Verify® Mark is in violation of trademark law.
Now it only takes a click of a button to request an I E-VerifyTM Seal. The I E-VerifyTM Seal distinguishes employers who commit to maintaining a legal workforce by using E-Verify. Employers that use E-Verify can request an I E-VerifyTM seal, to display in a visible location at their workplace. Download the online guidelines and application and join the I E-VerifyTM campaign today.
On March 21, USCIS launched E-Verify Self Check, the first online E-Verify program offered directly to the U.S. workforce. E-Verify Self Check, a fast, simple, secure and free service, enables individuals to voluntarily check their own employment eligibility status. USCIS is releasing E-Verify Self Check in phases, with the first phase only accessible to users who maintain an address and are physically located in Arizona, Idaho, Colorado, Mississippi, Virginia, or the District of Columbia. Visit the E-Verify Self Check website and check your own employment eligibility status. Also view the Self Check Fact Sheet.
