USCIS Expands E-Verify Self-Check to 16 Additional States and Launches Spanish Version

On August 15, 2011, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that “Self Check,” a free online service of E-Verify that allows individuals to check their own employment eligibility status, is now available in Spanish and accessible to residents in 16 additional states: California, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, South Carolina, Texas, Utah and Washington. This announcement expands on the initial launch of Self Check in March 2011 for residents who reside in Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Mississippi, Virginia and the District of Columbia. E-Verify Self Check was developed to address employer concerns regarding the inaccuracy of information in the E-Verify system that led to an increased number of tentative nonconfirmations.  As explained in a February 16 Federal Register notice, E-Verify Self Check enables individuals to check their work authorization status prior to employment and facilitate correction of potential errors in federal databases that provide input into the E-Verify process.  If the information provided by the individual matches the information contained in federal databases, a result of “work authorization confirmed” is displayed to the individual.  If the information is a mismatch, E-Verify Self Check will provide the individual a result of “Possible mismatch with SSA” or “Possible mismatch with immigration information.”  It also provides instructions on how to request correction of these potential errors in records contained in these federal databases should the individual choose to do so before any formal, employer run E-Verify query process. USCIS will continue to evaluate and improve the Self Check service, which it intends to expand nationwide by spring 2012. For an interactive self-guided preview of the E-Verify Self Check system, click here.  Individuals located in the 21 eligible states and the District of Columbia can use E-Verify Self Check now in English by clicking here or in Spanish by clicking here.