How do I find out if a potential employee is legally permitted to work in the United States?
Employers may only hire people legally authorized to work in the US. In most cases, upon hiring a new employee, citizen or noncitizen, the employer must complete a federal Employment Eligibility Verification form (I-9) for which the employer must review particular documents for proof of legal work eligibility. An employer must keep each I-9 on file for a certain time period. In addition to I-9s, employers may participate in E-Verify, a federal Web-based program for confirming work eligibility. Consult an employment attorney about E-Verify, as some states have passed laws requiring or forbidding its use in certain circumstances.
