Definition
E-Verify is a free online service that checks the details a new hire gives on Form I-9 against records held by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Social Security Administration (SSA) to confirm the person may work in the United States. Most employers use it by choice; federal contractors and employers in several states must use it.
Also known as: everify, employment eligibility verification system
How it works
After a new hire completes Form I-9, an employer enrolled in E-Verify enters information from that form. The system matches those details against DHS and SSA records. Results can return in as little as three to five seconds, and the service is free.
Employers may only use E-Verify after a job offer is accepted and Form I-9 is completed. If a worksite takes part, it must use E-Verify for all new hires at that location, not only some of them.
If the system cannot confirm the information right away, it issues a tentative nonconfirmation (TNC). A TNC is not a final finding. The employee can contest it and correct the records.
Most employers can choose whether to join. Use is required for most companies with federal contracts that carry the E-Verify clause, and several states require it for certain employers. It confirms work eligibility only: it is not a background check.
Example
A regional construction firm enrolls in E-Verify and creates a case for each new hire after completing Form I-9. One hire receives a tentative nonconfirmation, and the firm gives the employee the information needed to contest it and correct the record.
How it differs from similar terms
E-Verify vs Form I-9. E-Verify checks data already captured on Form I-9 against government records. It does not replace the form, which every employer must complete regardless of E-Verify participation.
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Facts as of Oct 22, 2026 · LeadChange Research Team
What it checks
- Case and deadline tracking
- Form I-9 integration
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Sample question
Case and deadline tracking
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Frequently asked questions
Is E-Verify mandatory in the USA?
Not for most employers. E-Verify is required for most companies with federal contracts and, under state law, for certain employers in several states. Otherwise it is voluntary. A worksite that joins must use it for every new hire there. Every employer still completes Form I-9.
Is E-Verify the same as a background check?
No. E-Verify only confirms that a new hire may work in the United States. It does not check criminal or credit history, and it does not verify other job requirements. Employers who need those checks use a background check provider.
Is E-Verify free?
Yes. E-Verify is a free online service run by the Department of Homeland Security. Employers enroll and then create a case for each new hire after Form I-9 is completed.
When can an employer run E-Verify?
Only after the job offer is accepted and Form I-9 is completed. E-Verify is not a prescreening tool, so employers cannot use it to screen applicants before they are hired.
What is a tentative nonconfirmation?
A tentative nonconfirmation (TNC) means E-Verify could not confirm the information right away. It is not a final decision. The employee can contest the mismatch and correct the records.
What is E-Verify used for?
To confirm that a newly hired employee may work in the United States. An enrolled employer enters the details from the new hire's Form I-9, and E-Verify compares them with Department of Homeland Security and Social Security Administration records. Results can come back in as little as three to five seconds.
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