E-Verify now required for contractors who work in the US
September 09 2009 by Rebekah Nahai
E-verify checks workers' US visa status
From September 8, US federal contractors and subcontractors must use the E-Verify online system to ensure staff have the correct visas to work in the US before taking them on.
The rule applies for recruits whose contracts include the Federal Acquisition Regulation E-Verify Clause.
The E-Verify system is free to use and is run in conjunction with the Social Security Administration. It is intended to deter unregistered people who move to the US from trying to obtain work and also helps employers to make sure they are only employing foreigners with work visas.
Some 550,000 US workplaces now use the E-Verify system, which compares information given on the Employment Eligibility Verification Form and data kept in government databases.
Since 1 October 2008, over 7.6 million employment verification queries have taken place on the system. Some 97 per cent of the queries are answered within 24 hours.
Under the new rules, introduced yesterday, firms awarding contracts with the E-Verify clause must enroll in E-Verify within 30 days of awarding the contract. It must then be used to verify the US visa status of all contractors, even those working on non-federal contracts.
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