Back to News

USCIS Takes Emergency Step for Employment Verification

Published on

August 26, 2020

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has come up with a temporary solution for companies dealing with extreme delays on certain documents that approve employees for work authorization.

The USCIS has approved a measure that allows an employee to immediately use a “Notice of Action” (Form I-797) approving their application for employment authorization as a Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, List C document.

While the form clearly states it is not to be used as evidence of employment authorization, USCIS hopes the temporary fix will alleviate delay issues employees have encountered in waiting for production of the official “Employment Authorization Document” or EAD card.

The agency said the delays in producing the cards are “due to the extraordinary and unprecedented COVID-19 public health emergency.” The change is immediate, and is retroactive for Form I-797, Notice of Action dated, after December 1, 2019, informing an applicant of the approval of an Application for Employment Authorization.

The temporary use of the Notice of Action runs through December 1, 2020.

USCIS makes it clear that while the Form I-797 Notice of Action may now serve as a temporary employment authorization, it does not serve as a List A document establishing both identity and employment authorization or a List B document establishing identity for Form I-9 purposes.

According to the USCIS, for Form I-9 completion, employees who present the Form I-797, Notice of Action approving new employment must also present their employer with an acceptable List B document that establishes identity. Find the full list of acceptable documents here. Current employees who require reverification can present their approved Form I-797, Notice of Action as proof of employment authorization under List C.

Employers should keep a list of employees who used the Form I-797 as employment authorization as a List C document. By December 1, employers must again verify those employees with new evidence of employment authorization from either List A or List C.

The USCIS said that it encourages employers to accept new EADs presented by employees as soon as they receive them from USCIS prior to December 1 to satisfy the reverification requirement. However, it is the employees’ choice whether to present their new EADs, or a different document from either List A or List C.

If you have any questions about this new qualification requirement for your employees, please contact me or any member of the Barley Snyder Immigration Practice Group.


Related News

View More News
News Alert
November 4, 2024

New Pennsylvania Workers’ Compensation Laws Expand Mental Health Coverage for First Responders, Require Direct Deposit

Governor Shapiro signed two bipartisan workers’ compensation bills into law last week on October 29, 2024. The first bill e...

Learn More
Press Release
October 14, 2024

Barley Snyder Adds Five New Associate Attorneys

For Immediate Release Lancaster, Pa. – Barley Snyder continues to grow and expand its group of attorneys, as the firm r...

Learn More
Press Release
October 9, 2024

Barley Snyder Attorney Hannah Schroer Named to The GateHouse Board of Directors

For Immediate Release Lancaster, Pa. – Barley Snyder attorney Hannah M. Schroer has been appointed to The GateHouse’s Boa...

Learn More

Other Upcoming Events

View All Upcoming Events
Nov
06
8:00 am
-
10:30 am
event
Location

Wake Up With Barley – A Morning on Real Estate 2024

Learn More

Get in Touch

Our attorneys, paralegals and staff look forward to hearing from you. Please reach out to let us know how we can help.

Get In Touch
RECOGNIZED IN
Super Lawyers
Best Law Firms US News
Best Lawyers