A

Acceptable Documents for Verifying Identity and Employment Eligibility - Documents designated for determining employment eligibility under the Immigration & Nationality Act (INA) are listed in the Handbook for Employers (M 274), Part Eight, pages 20 and 21.

The list has been modified since the publication of the Handbook. List A now includes only the following: (1) an Unexpired/Expired United States Passport; (2) an Alien Registration Receipt Card with photograph or Permanent Resident Card (Form I-551); (3) an Unexpired Foreign Passport with a Temporary I-551 stamp or attached Form I-94 indicating unexpired employment authorization; (4) an Unexpired Employment Authorization Document (EAD) issued by the Department of Homeland Security which contains a photograph (Form I-766, Form I-688A or Form I-688B), and (5) an Unexpired Temporary Resident Card (Form I-688).

List B and C are unchanged from those stated in the Handbook, but list B documents presented to an employer participating in the E-Verify Program must contain a photograph.

Admission Number or I-94 Number - An 11-digit number that is found on the Arrival-Departure Record (Form I-94).

Alien Status Verification Index (ASVI) - A Department of Homeland Security database accessed by benefit issuing agencies, licensing agencies, other entities and employers to verify non-citizen immigration and employment eligibility status. In June 2004, ASVI will be replaced by the Customer Processing System (CPS).

Alien (Non-citizen) - Any person who is not a citizen or national of the United States.

Alien File (A-File) - The history file containing data and documentation pertaining to an individual non-citizen. An A-File is created when any one of several Department of Homeland Security actions occur, for example, application for permanent resident status.

Alien Registration Number ("A" Number)/Alien ID Number/or Alien Number - A unique 7-, 8- or 9-digit number assigned to a non-citizen at the time his or her A-File is created.

Alien Registration Receipt Card, Form I-151 - This card was introduced in 1946 and issued to lawful permanent residents. Through 18 years of various revisions, it remained primarily green in color causing it to become known as a "green card." As of March 20, 1996, the Form I-151 is no longer acceptable as evidence of lawful permanent resident status. If a non-citizen is in possession of a Form I-151, it does not revoke his or her lawful permanent resident status; however, the document itself is expired and the applicant should be referred to the Department of Homeland Security for a replacement card.

Anti-discrimination Notice - The Anti-discrimination Notice is published by the Office of Special Counsel for Immigration-Related Unfair Employment Practices, Department of Justice, and provides information to employees concerning discrimination in the workplace. The E-Verify Memorandum of Understanding requires participating employers to display both the English and Spanish versions of the notice in a prominent place that is clearly visible to prospective employees.

Arrival/Departure Record (Form I-94) - A document issued to non-citizens when admitted into the United States. Some of these forms are stamped to indicate work authorized status. The Form I-94 contains an 11-digit Admission Number, which may be used as part of the Primary Query verification process if the non-citizen employee does not have an Alien Registration Number.

Asylee - A non-citizen already in the United States or at a port of entry, who is granted asylum in the United States, based on race, religion, nationality, or membership in a particular social group or political opinion. This status is covered by Section 208 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA).

Asylum - Asylum may be granted to a person who is unable or unwilling to return to his or her country of nationality, because they fear persecution.

B

Basic Pilot - See E-Verify

Basic Pilot Participation Notice - See E-Verify Participation Notice

C

Case in Continuance - The Department of Homeland Security needs more than 10 Federal Government workdays to resolve a case. The employee continues to work until a definitive answer is received from the Department of Homeland Security.

Case Verification Number - The Case Verification Number is a unique number returned by E-Verify. Employers participating in E-Verify are required to record the case verification number on the employee's Form I-9, or to print the screen containing the case verification number and attach it to the employee's Form I-9.

Corporate Administrator - This user type can only view reports for the site where they are physically located. They can also update their personal user profile.

Customer Processing System - The Department of Homeland Security's database accessed by benefit issuing agencies, licensing agencies, other entities, and employers to verify immigration and employment eligibility status.

D

DHS Verification in Process - The response given, if the employee's information matches the Social Security Administration records but the Social Security Administration does not have employment eligibility information for the non-citizen employee. The system automatically forwards the case to the Department of Homeland Security for verification of employment eligibility. The Department of Homeland Security responds to most of these cases within 24 hours, but has up to 3 Federal Government workdays to respond. An employer should check the system periodically for response.

Document Type - Type of document(s) presented by the newly hired employee to verify identity and employment eligibility.

E

Employee Not Terminated - A closure option used when the employee is not terminated after the employer receives a SSA Final Non confirmation; DHS Employment Unauthorized; DHS No Show; or if the employee is not terminated after he or she does not contest a Social Security Administration or Department Homeland Security Tentative Non confirmation response.

Employment Authorized - A response received from either the Social Security Administration or the Department of Homeland Security indicating the information provided by the employer matched the information contained in the database(s) and work eligibility has been confirmed.

Employment Authorization Card I-688A - A card issued by the former Immigration and Naturalization Service to non-citizens who qualified under the "Amnesty Program" of the Immigration Reform and Control Act (IRCA) of 1986. It is valid until the expiration date stated on the face of the card or on the sticker(s) placed on the back of the card.

Employment Authorization Card I-688B - A card issued by the Department of Homeland Security to non-citizens granted temporary employment authorization in the United States. The expiration date is noted on the face of the card. The I-688B is a laminated card.

Employment Authorization Document (EAD) I-766 - A document issued to non-citizens who are authorized to work temporarily in the United States. The document has been issued since January 1997. It is a credit card-type document.

Employment Eligibility Verification (Form I-9) - Every time an employer hires any employee to perform labor or services in return for wages or other remuneration, the employee and the employer must complete the Form I-9. This requirement applies to all employees hired after November 6, 1986.

E-Verify - E-Verify is a voluntary pilot program in which employment eligibility of all newly hired employees will be confirmed after the Employment Eligibility Verification (Form I-9) has been completed. The pilot involves separate verification checks (if necessary) of databases maintained by the Social Security Administration and the Department of Homeland Security.

E-Verify Participation Notice - The E-Verify Participation Notice informs perspective employees that a company is participating in E-Verify. The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) requires participating employers to display both the English and Spanish versions of the notice in a prominent place that is clearly visible to prospective employees.

F

G

General Users - This user type performs verification queries, views reports, and has the capability to update their personal user profile.

Green Card - A slang term describing the Alien Registration Receipt Card (Form I-551). Many versions of the I-551 are not green in color.

H

I

Illegal Alien - A foreign national who (1) entered the United States without inspection or with fraudulent documentation or (2) who, after entering legally as a non-immigrant, violated status and remained in the United States without authorization.

Immigrant - A non-citizen who has been lawfully granted the privilege of residing and working permanently in the United States.

Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952 (INA) - The Act (INA), which, along with other immigration laws, treaties, and conventions of the United States , relates to the immigration, temporary admission, naturalization, and removal of non-citizens.

Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 (IRCA) - Public Law 99-603 (Act of 11/6/86), which was passed in order to control and deter illegal immigration to the United States. Its major provisions stipulate legalization of undocumented non-citizens who had been continuously unlawfully present since 1982, legalization of certain agricultural workers, sanctions for employers who knowingly hire undocumented workers, and increased enforcement of U.S. borders.

Immigration Status - The legal status conferred on a non-citizen by immigration law.

Immigration Status Verifier (ISV) - A Department of Homeland Security employee who has the responsibility for verifying immigration and employment eligibility status for SAVE customers. ISVs are located at Department of Homeland Security field offices.

Immigrant Visa - A document, issued by a United States Department of State consulate or embassy abroad, which authorizes a non-citizen to apply for admission as an immigrant to the United States. This document does not grant work authorization.

Initial Query - The first step of the automated employment verification process.

Initial Verification - An automated query of the Social Security Administration and if necessary the Department of Homeland Security databases. Results will either verify employment eligibility or require additional verification, which is conducted through E-Verify.

Invalid Query - A resolution option for a duplicate query or incorrect data input.

J

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L

M

N

Non-Immigrant - A non-citizen who enters the United States temporarily for a specific period of time and purpose. This category includes foreign government officials, visitors for business and pleasure, students and temporary workers.

No Show - A response received when the employee did not contact the Department of Homeland Security to resolve his or her case and 10 Federal Government workdays have passed since the date of referral. The No Show response is considered a Final Non confirmation.

Notice to Employee of Tentative Non confirmation - This is a computer generated notice given to an employee after a Tentative Non confirmation response has been received from the Social Security Administration or the Department of Homeland Security. If an employee contest the Tentative Non confirmation response, he or she must contact the appropriate Government Agency to resolve the discrepancy to continue employment. An employee has 8 Federal Government workdays to resolve his or her case.

O

P

Parolee - A non-citizen applying for admission to the United States may be paroled into the United States under emergency conditions or when the non-citizen's entry is determined to be in the public interest. Parolee status is covered by Section 212 of the INA.

Passport - Any travel document issued by competent authority showing the bearer's origin, identity, and nationality, if any, which is valid for the entry of the bearer into a foreign country. If this document is used for Form I-9 purposes, it must be unexpired with either an I-551 stamp or an attached Form I-94 indicating unexpired employment authorization.

Permanent Resident or Legal Permanent Resident - A non-citizen who has been lawfully granted the privilege of residing and working permanently in the United States.

Permanent Resident Card, Form I-551, DEC 1997 - Issued by the former INS after December 1997, this card is the current version given to Permanent Resident Aliens. The document is valid for 10 years. In this version of the I-551, the card title was changed from Resident Alien to Permanent Resident Card.

Primary Verification (Initial Query) - The first step of the electronic verification process.

Q

R

Referral Notice - An employee contesting a Tentative Non confirmation response from the Social Security Administration or the Department of Homeland Security is provided with the appropriate agency referral notice instructing him or her to contact the Government within 8 Federal Government workdays from the date of referral to resolve any discrepancy in his or her record.

Refugee - Any person who is outside their country of nationality who is unable or unwilling to return to that country because of persecution or a well-founded fear of persecution. Unlike asylees, refugees apply for and receive this status prior to entry into the United States. This status is covered by Section 207 of the Immigration and Nationality Act.

Request Additional Verification - If the information returned from the Department of Homeland Security database is different from the information provided by the employee on the Form I-9, this feature provides the employer an option to provide additional information on the employee's case to the Department of Homeland Security requiring a further search of the case.

Resident Alien Card, Form I-551, AUG 1989 - This card was introduced in August 1989 and was the first Resident Alien Card to contain an expiration date. The card was issued to both conditional and lawful permanent residents. Valid only for a limited period of time - 2 years from the date of admission/adjustment for conditional permanent residents and 10 years from issuance for lawful permanent residents. The expiration date indicates when the card expires and must be renewed. It does not indicate that the non-citizen's status expires. The expiration date is stated on the front of the card. This version is rose-colored with a blue logo. It was modified in January 1992 when a white box was added behind the fingerprint.

Resident Alien Card, Form I-551, JAN 1977 - This card was introduced in January 1977 and phased in over a period of time. Although this card is no longer issued, it is valid indefinitely. In addition to the photograph, the I-551 will contain the bearer's signature and photograph. This card was issued to lawful permanent residents.

Resolve Case - This feature allows the user to select the appropriate option to resolve (close) all cases queried through E-Verify.

Resolved Authorized - A resolution option for the cases where an Employment Authorization response is received.

Resolved Unauthorized/Terminated - A resolution option if a Social Security Administration or Department of Homeland Security Final Non confirmation or No Show response is received, or if the employee does not contest a Social Security Administration or Department of Homeland Security Tentative Non confirmation response, and is terminated.

S

Self Terminated - A resolution option if the employee has quit or been terminated for reasons unrelated to employment eligibility status while the verification query is in process.

SSA Resubmittal - After an employee is referred to the Social Security Administration and visits one of its local offices and 24 hours have passed since they returned the referral letter to the employer, the user must resubmit the case through E-Verify to receive a final response. If the employee does not visit a Social Security Administration office, or does not return the stamped and signed referral letter to the employer, the employer should resubmit the case after 10 Federal Government workdays from the date of referral.

Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) Program - The SAVE Program Branch is responsible for administering Department of Homeland Security verification programs involving customer access to the CPS database. The SAVE Branch administers the SAVE Program itself, which enables federal, state, and local benefit-issuing agencies to obtain immigration status information needed in order to determine applicants' eligibility for many public benefits. In addition, the SAVE program conducts employment verification pilot programs that enable employers to quickly and easily verify the work authorization of their newly hired employees.

Social Security Administration - A Federal Government agency that administers a national program of contributory social insurance whereby employees, employers, and the self-employed pay contributions that are pooled in special trust funds. The Social Security Administration and the Department of Homeland Security are jointly conducting E-Verify.

T

U

V

W

X

Y

Z