Experienced Immigration Lawyers Representing Employers and Businesses in Washington, DC and the Surrounding Areas
The federal government is clamping down on employers who employ undocumented workers in the United States. U.S. employers must check to make sure that all of their employees, regardless of citizenship or national origin, are authorized to work in the United States.
In the past, employers who checked a worker's identity and legal work status had met their obligation. Even if the green card or other documentation presented by the worker was ultimately determined not to be authentic, if the ID appeared to be valid, the employer was generally not liable for Form I-9 noncompliance.
In February 2009, employers' obligations under U.S. immigration laws changed. It is no longer enough for an employer to simply verify that documents provided by a worker appear to be valid. Employers now have a duty to verify the identity of new workers and that they are legally authorized to work in the United States. In some cases, employers also have to re-verify work authorization later.
Call us toll free at 1.877.377.1247 or contact us online to schedule an appointment to discuss your employer immigration law needs.
Whether you are in the manufacturing, agriculture, hospitality, or construction industry, our attorneys have the experience needed to help you with employment-based immigration, as well as your obligation to verify employment authorization documents (EADs).
Helping Businesses Comply With New Employment Verification and Form I-9 Rules
At Dyer Immigration Law Group, P.C., we are experienced in all areas of employer immigration law and can help your company stay in compliance with the frequently changing and often-complex immigration laws Link to Immigration Law Overview.
"The message we are conveying today is pretty simple: We are serious about immigration enforcement."
Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, Michael Chertoff
The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will be enforcing the new Form I-9 regulations. If you are an employer who does not comply with the Immigration Reform and Control Act and the new Form I-9 rules, you risk serious financial and legal consequences. The sanctions and penalties employers face if they do not comply with the new Form I-9 rules include warnings, fines, and criminal penalties.
Do You Know How to Verify That Your Employees Are Authorized to Work in the United States?
The immigration attorneys at our Richmond, Virginia law firm can explain your obligations under the new rules and help you conduct legal right to work employment verifications on new employees. E-Verify is an Internet-based system, which checks a newly hired employee's identifying information against Social Security and Homeland Security databases. While E-Verify is not mandatory, it can provide you with valuable protection.
If you have questions about what identification documents are acceptable for I-9 verification purposes, about the technical changes to the new Form I-9, or any other issue related to employer immigration law, contact our firm. One of our immigration lawyers would be happy to answer your questions and speak with you about your concerns.
For more information, please read our Immigration Newsletter.
