This recent article in the Wall Street Journal highlights the importance of keeping accurate records regarding your employees' legal status to work in the United States. An I-9 form must be kept on file for all current employees and for 3 years after an employee leaves. We recommend keeping a copy of the supporting documents provided by employees to support the I-9 form.

An extra step you might consider to ensure an employee's legal status is to use the E-Verify system administered by US Citizenship and Immigration Services. E-Verify is an Internet-based system that compares information from an employee's Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, to data from U.S. Department of Homeland Security and Social Security Administration records to confirm employment eligibility.

Immigration Officials Swarm 7-Elevens, Issue Warning to U.S. Businesses http://on.wsj.com/2mk7ijd