1099 Risk Blog

Rumors of E-Verify's Demise Just That -- Despite More Delay

While we're shy of reporting on rumors, the word from Washington Technology today is that a representative from trade association TechAmerica has emailed their membership with the news that the deadline for Federal Contractors to comply with E-Verify will be delayed, yet again, this time to September 8. The ruling was most recently postponed to June 30th to allow the Obama administration more time to review the rule.

Official announcements may come later this week. If the rumor is true, then this will be the fourth time that E-verify has been delayed at the Federal level.

Those who think this spells the demise of E-Verify might want to read this last blog post on the E-Verify issue, where I explain my reasons for believing it is going to happen eventually, one way or another. Further delay, while annoying (I think we'd all like the administration to get off the fence about it) doesn't entice me to change my position.

Meanwhile, E-Verify makes continued progress at county and state levels of government. South Carolina joins the ranks of states that will require E-verify, and the news is sprinkled with reports of E-Verify requirements from places like Oakland County, Michigan or the City of Dallas. And in a new twist, reports are starting to come in that businesses advertising their use of E-Verify are getting a marketing and sales boost, based perhaps out of some "buy American" sentiment among their consumer base.

I was hoping we'd be able to move on from the existential E-Verify questions at the end of this month, but apparently that may not be the case. That said, best to ignore those who claim that the additional delay means E-Verify won't survive. Fortune favors the prepared, and the best thing you can do is make sure your business is prepared to comply with the ruling if, and when, it goes live.

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