The government's employment eligibility verification system is back online after a weeklong shutdown.
E-Verify was restored late in the day on Oct. 7, according to Dawn Lurie, senior counsel in Seyfarth's Washington, D.C., office. The E-Verify system had been shut down since Oct. 1 due to a lapse in federal government funding.
"It is unclear how long it will remain operational or how USCIS [U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services] managed to restore access during the shutdown, but for now, the system is active," Lurie said.
She recommended employers run their backlogged queries as soon as possible and ensure all new hires are entered into the system without delay.
"It also appears that employers can once again perform related functions such as setting up new accounts, closing cases, and addressing tentative nonconfirmations," she said.
Lurie said she believes that USCIS will not yet start the clock on the three-day submission window for cases that could not be created during the suspension period.
She said that it is still unclear whether anyone will be available to staff the E-Verify employer and employee hotlines in the coming days and that no official guidance has been posted yet.
"It is not surprising that the administration found a way to return E-Verify to operational status even amid the shutdown," she said. "Given the ongoing emphasis on compliance, worksite enforcement, and employment eligibility verification, reactivating this essential tool aligns with...
In 1995, Princess Diana made broadcasting history and shaped the future of the Royal Family when she sat down with Martin Bashir for an episode of BBC's Panorama. Three decades on, the interview c...