How Does E-Verify Supplement the Form I-9 Process for Private Businesses? What You Need to Know

Every company hiring workers in the United States faces an obligation to verify the employment eligibility of each individual they choose to hire by completing the Form I-9 process. The U.S. government periodically conducts inspections (sometimes also referred to as audits) of companies for compliance with Form I-9 requirements, and failing these inspections can attract costly fines. Many employers want to simplify the employment eligibility verification process, and solutions do exist—but there can be some confusion, especially around the role of E-Verify. The federal E-Verify system, an electronic tool for supporting employment eligibility confirmation, is an additional layer that employers may (or in some cases must) add to their employment verification program. It is not, however, a replacement for the Form I-9 process.

When Completing the Form I-9 Process, What Document Types Can You Accept?

Confirming that an individual is authorized to work in the United States is mandatory for employers across the nation. Form I-9 form is the required document for doing so, though some employers may also be required to complete the E-Verify process.

What is the Purpose of Form I-9?

When hiring new workers, many employers rightfully focus their attention on pre-employment screening and vetting. Criminal background checks, verifying the information on CVs, and other tasks consume much of the time required for new hires. However, there are vital steps you must take as part of the hiring process to verify the identity and employment authorization of your new hires using Form I-9. If you don’t set up your onboarding workflow appropriately, you could miss key steps and expose yourself to penalties and other risks. Completing a Form I-9 is a task you don’t want to miss.