Federal Contractors Need to Get Ready for E-Verify

In less than 30 days, most federal contractors will be required to use E-Verify. E-Verify works by allowing employers to electronically compare employee information taken from the Form I-9 against records in SSA’s database and records in DHS’ immigration databases.

Federal contracts awarded and solicitations issued after September 8, 2009 will include a clause committing government contractors to use E-Verify. The same clause will also be required in subcontracts over $3,000 for services or construction. Contracts exempt from this rule include those that are for less than $100,000 and those that are for commercially available off-the-shelf items. Companies awarded a contract with the federal government will be required to enroll in E-Verify within 30 days of the contract award date. They will also need to begin using the E-Verify system to confirm that all of their new hires and their employees directly working on federal contracts are authorized to legally work in the United States.

Employers that expect to be awarded federal contracts on or after September 8, 2009 need to make plans now to comply with this new requirement. Employers may register for E-Verify and learn to use the system or they can outsource the E-Verify process to a Designated Agent who has been approved by E-Verify to use the system on behalf of employers. It is important that federal contractors prepare now by carefully reviewing the entire Employment Eligibility Verification process by scheduling an audit of their I-9s, updating their company compliance plan, training personnel to handle the new requirements, and making a decision about who will manage the E-Verify process.

A qualified I-9 consultant can help make the transition to these new requirements a lot less stressful and time consuming. The website www.I-9Okay.com has a great FAQ section and important Fact Sheets to assist federal contractors with full compliance of I-9 regulations and the new E-Verify requirements.

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