Do You Check Out? USCIS Self Check Program Now Available
February 15th, 2012 § 2 Comments
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services recently made an announcement that the Self Check Program is now available throughout the United States, Washington D.C., Guam, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands.
The Self Check Program is an online service for employees to check their own employment eligibility status through the Social Security Administration and the Department of Homeland Security. « Read the rest of this entry »
Workshop Tackles the Nuts and Bolts of Form I-9
October 19th, 2011 § Leave a Comment
On October 13, attorneys John Wilson and Grace Miller gave a lively presentation on Form I-9 and E-Verify to members of the River Valley Human Resources Association in Claremont, NH. We would like to thank all the participants for asking many great, engaging questions, and of course extend a big thank you to Claremont Savings Bank for hosting us in their conference room.
In addition to providing an in-depth look at each section of the I-9 Form and the Lists of Acceptable Documents, attorneys Wilson and Miller explained E-Verify, how it relates to the I-9 Form, and what obligations are created when employers enroll in the program. Participants left the workshop with a better understanding of the I-9 form and why it’s frequently called the most complicated one page form ever created!
Each participant received GoffWilson’s coveted I-9 Form Reference Workbook, which past participants have said they use every time a new person is hired. GoffWilson attorneys have carefully tailored this workbook to be a practical, step-by-step guide to completing the I-9 Form. The workbook also provides examples of correctly completed I-9 Forms, frequently asked questions, and examples that can help you spot I-9 errors before they become a legal headache.
We would like to extend a special thank you to the participants who asked us to stay longer to review additional examples and ask questions. If you were unable to attend this workshop and you are interested in Form I-9 related training, please stay tuned to GoffWilson’s I-9 Blawg. Additional presentations will be offered soon. They will be announced on our Blawg and our social media accounts, so be sure to bookmark us and follow us on Facebook and Twitter. If you are interested in hosting a workshop for your organization, please visit the I-9 training and seminars page on our website.
Thank you again to all of the participants for a great workshop!
Another Great I-9 & E-Verify Seminar! Thanks to All Attendees!
September 23rd, 2011 § 1 Comment
Thank you to all of the participants who attended our seminar, “Form I-9 & E-Verify: What You Need To Know – 2011” yesterday at Northeast Delta Dental in Concord, New Hampshire. We would like to thank Northeast Delta Dental for providing the venue – as well as a toothbrush and tube of toothpaste for each participant! We had an engaging workshop with lots of great questions.
Participants included private employers, public employers, not-for-profit organizations, and government entities of all sizes. To make sure we’re addressing the needs of our attendees, we like to survey participants soon after the seminar. If you would like to take part in this brief survey, please click here.
In addition to the yummy breakfast, participants left with an in-depth understanding of I-9 form completion and retention requirements. Attorneys John Wilson and Grace Miller demystified E-Verify and the employer’s obligations created by enrolling in the program.
Each participant was given GoffWilson’s sought-after I-9 form reference workbook, which past participants have said they use every time a new person is hired. Using this workbook, participants were given the opportunity to put pen to paper and complete sample I-9 forms that were filled with common issues and problems. Workshop participants then applied their knowledge and skillfully spotted errors on sample I-9 forms.
GoffWilson has certified this course for HRCI credit. Participants who needed PHR/SPHR certification received 3 hours of HRCI credit.
Thank you again to all of the participants and Northeast Delta Dental for a great work!
Department of Homeland Security Launches New E-Verify Tool
March 22nd, 2011 § 1 Comment
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced on Monday the launch of, “E-Verify Self Check.” This tool is an online service that allows individuals in the U.S. to check their employment eligibility status before seeking employment.
The free service is available to individuals in Arizona, Idaho, Colorodo, Mississippi, Virginia, and the District of Columbia. The USCIS plans to expand Self Check’s availability once feedback and reviews are received from the initial launch areas. Nationwide expansion should take place within 12 months, according to a USCIS press release. The goal of the program is reduce the number of data mismatches employers experience when using E-Verify.
How E-Verify Self Check Works:
- Users enter their name, date of birth, and address online.
- Users confirm their identity by answering demographic and financial questions generated by a third-party identity assurance service.
- Users enter Social Security number and depending on citizenship status, Alien Registration number.
- The program checks the information against relevant Social Security Administration (SSA) and DHS databases and returns information regarding the users’ employment eligibility status.
Important Notes for Employers:
- Employers cannot require individuals to use E-Verify Self Check to prove work authorization.
- E-Verify employers must continue to run an E-Verify query on each new hire, even if the new hire has previously verified their employment status through Self Check.
- Employers may not accept Self Check results as a fulfillment for the I-9 Form.
Click here to read the full press release from USCIS. For answers to specific questions regarding E-Verify Self Check, contact GoffWilson.
November 2010 Form I-9 & E-Verify Seminar
November 19th, 2010 § Leave a Comment
Thank you to those who attended GoffWilson’s I-9 workshop at the Northeast Delta Dental Auditorium! This November’s participants, made up primarily of HR professionals, had the opportunity to complete many I-9 forms using a variety of common and not-so-common documents. The workshop provided extensive instruction on each of the three sections of the form as well as discussions on I-9 policies, including photocopying supporting documents, storage, tickler reminder systems, and purging I-9 forms that are beyond the statutory requirement. Attorneys John Wilson and Grace Miller also provided an introduction to E-Verify to those not familiar with the program, reasons employers would be required to enroll in E-Verify, the legal obligations involved in enrolling, and the considerations that employers’ should have before enrolling in the government offered program.
Participants left the seminar with an excellent understanding of the I-9 form, the underlying policies of the I-9 form, and the liabilities associated with the form. Participants who needed PHR/SPHR certification received 3 hours of HRCI credit. In addition to breakfast, participants were given valuable reference material, their I-9 workbook, resource guide and retention worksheet as well as the knowledge and confidence to correctly complete the I-9 form. Northeast Delta Dental generously gave participants a take home gift of toothbrushes, toothpaste and floss.
Thank you again to all of the participants and Northeast Delta Dental for supplying the venue and atmosphere conducive for learning.
Announcing Form I-9 and E-Verify seminar for November 2010
October 12th, 2010 § Leave a Comment
Knowledge is power in the changing landscape of federal immigration enforcement.
GoffWilson, an immigration law firm with offices in New Hampshire and abroad, announces an encore presentation of the winning seminar for Employers and Human Resource Professionals, “Form I-9 & E-Verify: What You Need To Know 2010”. Back by popular demand for the third time, the training workshop will take place on Thursday, November 18, 2010 from 8:00 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. at Delta Dental Auditorium in Concord, NH.
Participants earn three Human Resource Certification Institute (HRCI) continuing education credit hours for completing the training.
2010 Form I-9 & E-Verify Seminar A Success!
June 8th, 2010 § 1 Comment
We would like to extend a special thanks to those who attended “Form I-9 & E-Verify: What You Need To Know 2010″ at Delta Dental Auditorium last Friday. The seminar was a success for the second year in a row!
The event was fully-booked and sold-out by HR Professionals and business owners looking to deepen their knowledge and understanding of the I-9 Form. Participants arrived early Friday morning at Delta Dental Auditorium and were treated to a delicious breakfast to get energized for the day.
Melissa Registers Participants
A delicious breakfast
Attorney Jim Reidy, of Sheehan, Phinney, Bass + Green, P.A., kicked-off the seminar by providing participants with an informative Labor Law Legal Update.
Attorney Jim Reidy kicked-off the day
Attorney John Wilson and Attorney Grace Miller of GoffWilson, P.A. led the seminar. Participants learned how Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) targets illegal immigration by focusing on U.S. employers. ICE uses the I-9 Form and hiring records to target employers that do not comply with employment eligibility verification laws. Form I-9 errors can result in fines that range from $110 to $1,100.
Attorney Grace Miller & Attorney John Wilson explain how ICE targets illegal immigration
Attorney Wilson and Attorney Miller taught participants how to complete the I-9 Form properly and completely, discussed the most common errors that can result in ICE scrutiny and fines, reviewed acceptable verification documents, and covered the most up-to-date legal requirements that employers must abide by.
Attorney Miller teaches participant how to properly complete the I-9 Form
Attorney Wilson teaches participants how to properly document a U.S. Driver's License and a Birth Certificate
After 3 hours of intense I-9 training, participants received certificates for HRCI credit from the Human Resource Certification Institue. Nancy Valpey from the NH Liquor Commission was the lucky winner of the beautiful flower arrangement at the registration table.
Participants received 3 hours of HRCI recertification credit
Enter to win the flowers...
And the lucky winner is: Nancy!
Special thanks to the staff at Delta Dental for providing the space and resources to make the day a success, and to Attorney Jim Reidy for contributing his time and information.
Thank You Delta Dental
We look forward to seeing you at future seminars.
- The GoffWilson I-9 Team
Business Owner and Manager Indicted for Employing Undocumented Workers
May 7th, 2010 § 1 Comment
Aerial photo of Can Do It, Inc., 801 Golf Lane, Bensenville, Illinois
Last week the president and office manager of two staffing companies operating from the same business location were charged with hiring undocumented employees. Clinton Roy Perkins, the president, and Christopher Reindl, the manager, operate two staffing companies, Anna II, Inc and Can Do It, Inc., from 801 Golf Lane, Bensenville, Illinois. The indictment alleges that both men hired more than ten employees with actual knowledge that the individuals were undocumented and had been brought into the United States in violation of the law.
Gary Hartwig, special agent in charge of the ICE office of Investigation in Chicago, stated, “ICE is committed to ensuring that employers are held accountable for maintaining a legal workforce. The goal of our enforcement effort is two-fold – reduce the demand for illegal employment, and protect job opportunities for the nation’s lawful workforce.”
If convicted, the indictment seeks forfeiture of both business and personal assets. In addition, hiring undocumented workers carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each count.
This indictment is consistent with the stated policy of the Obama administration: enforce the laws that prohibit U.S. employers from hiring undocumented workers to eliminate the demand of illegal immigration.
Since the focus of the worksite enforcement investigations has shifted to the employer, employers should verify that their I-9 forms are being properly completed and retained.
GoffWilson Announces Form I-9 and E-Verify Seminar For 2010
May 5th, 2010 § Leave a Comment
Navigating the rough seas of immigration law demands that companies wear life preservers for safety. GoffWilson announces an encore performance of last year’s winning seminar for Employers and Human Resource Professionals, “Form I-9 & E-Verify: What You Need To Know 2010”. Back by popular demand, the training workshop will take place on Friday, June 4, 2010 from 8:00 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. at Delta Dental Auditorium in Concord, NH. Participants earn three Human Resource Certification Institute (HRCI) continuing education credit hours for completing the training.
It’s Official: E-Verify Extended until September 30, 2012
October 30th, 2009 § Leave a Comment
On October 28th, President Obama signed the Department of Homeland Security appropriations bill for fiscal year 2010, extending E-Verify through September 30, 2012. The bill passed the house on October 15th and the Senate on the 20th.
Passage of this bill is consistent with the Administration’s stated intention to eventually make E-Verify mandatory for all employers (as we reported in April of this year).
E-Verify is an online system dependent upon the Form I-9 that is intended to allow employers to verify the employment authorization of newly hired employees.
