I am an

employer E4

How do I

use E-Verify?

E-Verify is an Internet-based system operated by U.S. 

Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), part of the 

Department of Homeland Security (DHS), in partnership with the 

Social Security Administration (SSA). E-Verify is free and easy to use. 

E-Verify provides an automated link to Government records to help 

employers confirm the employment eligibility of new hires.

Why should I consider participating in E-Verify? 

E-Verify is currently the best means available for employers to 

verify electronically the employment eligibility of their newly hired 

employees. E-Verify protects jobs for authorized workers and helps 

employers maintain a legal workforce. 

Am I required to participate in E-Verify? 

No. While participation in E-Verify is voluntary for most employers, 

other employers may be required by State law or Federal regulation 

to use E-Verify. For example, most employers in Arizona and 

Mississippi are required to use E-Verify. E-Verify is also mandatory 

for employers with Federal contracts or subcontracts that contain the 

Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) E-Verify clause. 

How do I enroll in E-Verify? 

To enroll in E-Verify, visit www.dhs.gov/E-Verify and click on 

“Getting Started” to view instructions for completing the enrollment 

process. At the end of the enrollment process, you will be required 

to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that provides the 

terms of agreement between the employer and DHS. 

Employers can choose which of their locations to sign up for E-Verify. 

For example, an employer may choose to designate one site to 

create E-Verify cases for newly hired employees on behalf of the 

entire company. Only one MOU would need to be signed for this 

option.

Our company has several hiring sites interested in 

participating in E-Verify. Each site will be creating cases for 

its newly hired employees. How should these sites enroll? 

An employer may choose which sites to enroll in E-Verify and may 

elect to have each site create its own cases. Each site that will 

perform its own employment verifications will enroll and sign its own 

MOU to participate in the program. 

I am an employer with multiple hiring sites. Can one site 

create cases for all my employees? 

Yes, one site may create new cases for all of its sites. When 

you enroll for the site that will create cases, select “multiple site 

registration” and give the number of sites per state for which it will 

use E-Verify. 

What is an E-Verify Employer Agent? 

E-Verify Employer Agents are liaisons between E-Verify and 

employers who wish to participate in the program, but choose to 

outsource submission of E-Verify cases. E-Verify employer agents 

conduct the verification process on behalf of their employer clients. 

E-Verify employer agents must enroll online and sign their own 

MOUs with DHS. The E-Verify Employer Agent can enroll employers 

as clients who have designated it to create cases for them. Each 

employer client will also be required to sign an MOU and will have a 

unique E-Verify client number. 

What is an E-Verify Corporate Administrator? 

A Corporate Administrator is someone who has management 

oversight authority of all of an employer’s hiring sites that participate 

in E-Verify. To become a Corporate Administrator, an individual 

only needs to register within the employer’s E-Verify account. The 

Corporate Administrator is able to register company sites, add and 

delete users at company sites and view reports. The Corporate 

Administrator, however, cannot create cases. 

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After an employer enrolls, how does E-Verify work? 

E-Verify works by comparing the information entered from the 

employee’s Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, with 

records available to DHS and SSA. The E-Verify MOU, user manuals, 

and tutorial contain instructions and other information on E-Verify 

procedures and requirements. Users must first complete the tutorial 

before they may begin using E-Verify.

For more information about the process for using Form I-9, 

Employment Eligibility Verification, see Customer Guide E3, I Am 

an Employer...How Do I...Complete Form I-9, Employment Eligibility 

Verification.

What information is required to create an E-Verify case? 

A completed Form I-9 is required to create an E-Verify case. The 

employer or employer agent creates a case by inputting information 

from sections 1 and 2 of the Form I-9.

E-Verify provides an initial case result within 3-5 seconds. 

When may an employer create a case in E-Verify? 

The earliest an E-Verify case may be created is after an individual 

accepts an offer of employment and the employee and employer 

complete the Form I-9. The case must be created no later than the 

end of 3 business days after the new hire’s first day of employment.

Employers must use E-verify in a non-discriminatory manner and 

may not create cases based upon the employee’s national origin, 

citizenship status, race, or other characteristic that is prohibited by 

U.S. law.

Which employees should be verified in E-Verify? 

E-Verify employers are required to verify all newly hired employees, 

both U.S. citizens and non-citizens. Employers may not verify 

selectively and must verify all new hires while participating in 

E-Verify. 

Which existing employees may be verified in E-Verify? 

E-Verify may not be used to create cases for employees hired before 

the company signed the MOU (unless you are a Federal contractor 

with the FAR E-Verify clause) or to re-verify employees who have 

temporary work authorization.

Can I verify the immigration status of a new hire? 

No. E-Verify only verifies employment eligibility, not immigration 

status. 

My employee has applied for a Social Security number 

(SSN) but has not yet received it. What should I do?

A case cannot be created in E-Verify without a Social Security 

Number. If a newly hired employee has applied for, but has not 

yet received his or her Social Security Number (i.e., if he or she is 

a newly arrived immigrant), make a note on the employee’s Form 

I-9 and set it aside. Allow the employee to continue to work. Once 

the employee receives the Social Security Number, create a case in 

E-Verify. If you are unable to create a case within 3 business days of 

hire, E-Verify will prompt you to enter a reason for the delay. In this 

case, select: “Awaiting Social Security Number.”

Is there a “batch access” method in the system? 

No. But there is a “Web Services” method. This is a real-time 

method that requires an employer or employer agent to develop 

software that interfaces with USCIS to perform employment 

eligibility verification. Your company’s software will extract data from 

your existing system or an electronic Form I-9 and transmit the 

information to Government databases. If you choose this option, 

a copy of the Employer Web Services Interface Control Document 

(ICD) will be sent to you. The ICD contains the information 

you need to develop and test your software interface. For more 

information and help with design specifications, please contact 

USCIS at 1-800-741-5023. 

Can I terminate my participation in E-Verify at any time? 

Yes, you may choose to terminate your company’s participation in 

E-Verify at any time, with 30 days written notice. 

Does participation in E-Verify provide safe harbor from 

worksite enforcement? 

No. Participation in E-Verify does not provide protection from 

worksite enforcement. 

How can I find out more about E-Verify? 

To find out more about E-Verify, visit www.dhs.gov/E-Verify or 

call USCIS at 1-888-464-4218.

Key Information

Key USCIS forms referenced 

in this guide

Form #

Employment Eligibility Verification I-9 

Other U.S. Government Services–Click or Call

General 

Information

www.usa.gov 1-800-333-4636

New 

Immigrants

www.welcometoUSA.gov

U.S. Dept. 

of State

www.state.gov 1-202-647-6575

U.S. Dept. 

of Homeland 

Security

www.dhs.gov/e-verify 1-888-464-4218

U.S. Dept. of 

Justice OSC

www.justice.gov/crt/osc 1-800-255-8155
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For more copies of this guide, or information 

about other customer guides, please visit 

www.uscis.gov/howdoi. 

You can also visit www.uscis.gov to 

download forms, e-file some applications, 

check the status of an application, and more. 

It’s a great place to start!

If you don’t have Internet access at home 

or work, try your local library. 

If you cannot find what you need, please call 

Customer Service at: 1-800-375-5283 

Hearing Impaired TDD Customer Service: 

1-800-767-1833

Disclaimer: This guide provides basic information 

to help you become generally familiar with our 

rules and procedures. For more information, or 

the law and regulations, please visit our Web 

site. Immigration law can be complex, and it is 

impossible to describe every aspect of every 

process. You may wish to be represented by 

a licensed attorney or by a nonprofit agency 

accredited by the Board of Immigration Appeals.