How should businesses verify employee eligibility to work?

Verifying Employee Eligibility to Work in Nevada

In Nevada, businesses must verify that all new hires are legally authorized to work in the United States. This process ensures compliance with federal and state regulations and helps avoid penalties.

Steps to Verify Employee Eligibility

• Complete Form I-9: Every new employee must fill out the Employment Eligibility Verification form (Form I-9). This form requires employees to provide documentation that proves their identity and work authorization.
• Review Acceptable Documents: Employers must examine original documents from the Lists of Acceptable Documents provided by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). These include passports, permanent resident cards, driver’s licenses combined with Social Security cards, and others.
• Retain Form I-9: Keep the completed Form I-9 on file for at least three years after the date of hire or one year after employment ends, whichever is later. Proper recordkeeping is essential for compliance audits.
• Use E-Verify (Optional but Recommended): Nevada businesses can voluntarily enroll in the E-Verify system, an online tool that electronically confirms employee eligibility by comparing information from Form I-9 to government records. Some federal contractors may be required to use E-Verify.

Operational Considerations

• Train Hiring Staff: Ensure HR and hiring managers understand how to properly complete and review Form I-9 to avoid errors that could lead to fines.
• Maintain Compliance with Recordkeeping: Implement automated systems to track I-9 retention timelines and audit readiness.
• Integrate Eligibility Verification with Onboarding: Streamline hiring by incorporating eligibility verification into your onboarding workflow to reduce delays.
• Stay Updated on Regulations: As of 2026, monitor any changes in federal and Nevada-specific employment verification requirements to maintain compliance.