E-Verify And IMAGE

Employment-Based Immigration Lawyers in Texas

Federal immigration laws hold employers responsible for ensuring employees are eligible to work in the United States. By imposing this responsibility with employers, the incentives for illegal hiring practices are reduced significantly.

E-Verify: Enforcing our Immigration Laws

E-Verify is an online system that allows participating employers to check employment eligibility. Employers enter the information contained in the employee’s I-9 form into the system. The information will be checked against the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Social Security Administration (SSA) records to verify work eligibility.

FAR

Starting September 8th, 2009, federal contracts awarded and solicitations with a period of performance longer than 120 days and a value above $100,000 must include a clause requiring federal contractors to use E-Verify. The same clause is also be required in subcontracts over $3,000 for services or construction that flow from those prime contracts. These contractors and subcontractors must confirm that (i) all new hires and (ii) existing employees directly performing work under federal contracts are authorized to work in the United States through E-Verify. Existing employees performing work under the contract would include the following:

• Employees whose primary job requirement is work on the contract
• Existing employees who are working intermittently on the contract or for short periods of time
• Employees run through E-Verify by a previous employer (working on the contract)

However, an employee performing support work, such as indirect or overhead functions, and does not perform any substantial duties under the contract, is not required to be verified through E-Verify.

IMAGE

To combat unlawful employment and reduce vulnerabilities that help unauthorized aliens gain such employment, the ICE Mutual Agreement between Government and Employers (IMAGE) program was initiated in 2007. The goal is to assist employers in targeted sectors to develop a more secure and stable workforce and to enhance fraudulent document awareness through education and training.

By voluntarily participating in the IMAGE program, companies can reduce unauthorized employment and the use of fraudulent identity documents. As part of IMAGE, ICE and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will provide education and training on proper hiring procedures, fraudulent document detection, use of the E-Verify employment eligibility verification program and anti-discrimination procedures.

Experienced Worksite Immigration Attorneys in Dallas

The attorneys at the Law Offices of Richard A. Gump, Jr. have extensive knowledge and experience working with our nation’s complex immigration laws. We understand what is expected of U.S. employers to reduce unauthorized workers and we know effective strategies for ensuring compliance. We educate clients about the verification systems including E-Verify and advise them about I-9 verification and compliance.

To learn more about our immigration services, contact the employment-based immigration lawyers at the Law Offices of Richard A. Gump, Jr., in Dallas, Texas.