Verify that your new employees are eligible to work in the United States
E-Verify is an Internet-based system that assists employers in electronically verifying the employment eligibility of newly hired employees. It allows employers to compare work eligibility documentation required by the federal Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 with records from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Social Security Administration. It is currently the best means available for determining employment eligibility of new hires and the validity of their Social Security Numbers.
Additionally, E-Verify's new Photo Screening Tool allows an employer to check the photo on his or her new hire's Employment Authorization Document (EAD) or Permanent Resident Card ("Green Card") against the images stored in DHS immigration databases.
There is no cost to participate in the E-Verify program. The process for employers to register and screen employees is easy. For more information, and to register with E-Verify, visit the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services web site.
The use of E-Verify is voluntary in Minnesota except for the following
employers:
|
Governor Pawlenty signed Executive Order (EO) 08-01 requiring the use of E-Verify by the above listed employers to verify that new employees are eligible to work in the United States. The EO is effective January 29, 2008. A copy of EO 08-01 is available online.
The programs administered by the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) that are primarily affected by this EO are the Minnesota Investment Fund, The Job Opportunity Building Zones program, the Agriculture and Economic Development Board programs and the Urban Initiative Program. Recipients of business subsidies must certify their compliance with the Immigration Reform and Control Act in relation to employees performing work in the United States. DEED is also creating a scoring incentive in competitive programs for businesses that implement the E-Verify system for newly hired employees.
Further information about what the EO requires with respect to state contracts is available on the web site of the Minnesota Department of Administration.