E-Verify is an online electronic verification system which is dealt by the Homeland Security department and the Administration of Social Security that empowers the employers to instantaneously verify the identity and the credentials submitted by the new employee.

The employer feeds some basic information in to the computer such as the identity details, birth date, Social Security number etc. This fed information is transmitted to the Homeland Security department and the Administration of social security. The DHS verifies the citizenship or work eligibility of the candidate and resends the information to the employer in a span of few seconds.

There are 8 steps involved in the E-Verification system

• The law does not permit the employers to screen potential candidates using this system. But they can use this system to authenticate the newly joined employees
• The employer is supposed to do the verification within 3 days of hiring, the employer has to feed in the details also necessitated in the form 1-9, in an online form that is available on the website of Homeland Security department
• The fed information to the Department of Homeland Security is confirmed by the Social Security Administration database using USCIS database and the status of the immigrant is verified. Most of the authorized workers receive positive confirmation within seconds, those without this fast-track confirmation message are often illegal workers
• If the information fed does not coincide with the database records the notice is sent to the employer to re-look on the fed information for human errors. The details once checked have to be re-submitted on the website, if the match still does not happen E-Verify gives out non-confirmation of the employee
• The non confirmation notice can be looked into by the employer by walking in to any SSA office in case the employer is an US citizen or USCIS incase the employer is an authorized immigrant
• If the employer does not respond to the non-confirmation within 8 working days then the final confirmation will be sent to the employer by DHS
• The employer can either terminate the employee or wait for the re-confirmation of the employee status but he must keep the DHS informed about his decision

The system has the potential to curb illegal immigration in to the country. However, occasional system errors have also conferred some citizens a non-confirmation status.