USCIS Suspends E-Verify But Shutdown Doesn’t Pause I-9 Requirements

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced earlier this week that the organization temporarily suspended all E-Verify functions due to the federal government shutdown. Despite this news, Form I-9 requirements remain fully in effect.

Employees still must complete Section 1 of Form I-9 on or before their first day of work, and employers must complete Section 2 within three business days of the employee’s start date. This obligation is not suspended during the shutdown.

Employers are temporarily excused from the three-day deadline to create E-Verify cases. Once the system resumes, delayed cases may be submitted without penalty. Employees navigating the Tentative Nonconfirmation process have been granted additional time to resolve their cases.

Until USCIS provides formal directions, employers must assume all rules remain in effect.