Can employers use E-Verify to verify existing employees?

Employers generally cannot use E-Verify to verify existing employees who were hired before they enrolled in the program. E-Verify is designed to confirm the employment eligibility of new hires using the information provided on their I-9 forms. When an employer first establishes an account and begins using E-Verify, it can only apply to employees hired after the enrollment date. This prevents retroactive verification and ensures that the process is handled consistently for new employees.

The distinction in the question is crucial as it underscores the intended use of E-Verify for new hires rather than existing employees. While there are some exceptions under specific circumstances, the general rule set forth by the E-Verify guidelines is that existing employees who were hired prior to the employer's enrollment cannot be verified using the system. This maintains the integrity of the employment eligibility verification process from the point of the employer’s commitment to using E-Verify moving forward.