The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) recently announced a reminder for employers using E-Verify. This reminder was to download any records for E-Verify cases that have not received an update since December 31, 2014. The purge began on January 6, 2025.

Every year, the USCIS disposes of E-Verify employer records if they are ten or more years old. This disposal follows the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) records and retention schedule. According to the USCIS, disposing of the old E-Verify records helps reduce the risks of retaining an individual’s personal information.

Though reducing the potential theft of personally identifiable information is critical, employers must ensure they retain still-relevant information. The USCIS reminded employers that the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) could request these records anytime. Other reminders included investigations by the Department of Justice’s Immigrant and Employees Rights (IER) Section or audits by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) or state agencies.

Employers must attach a copy of the particular E-Verify work authorization case page or the verification number to each I-9 form. Employers can still recover relevant information from the E-Verify system even if they failed to attach a copy of the E-Verify work authorization case page or verification number to an employee’s Form I-9. However, the USCIS deletes records that are older than ten years.

The USCIS encouraged employers to ensure that they retain any documentation they may need before the E-Verify system purges old records. Retaining this information requires an account administrator to download a Historic Records Report for the employer. At minimum, this report contains the company’s name and location, the initiation date and verification number, the employee’s name and initial resolution date, the final status, and the case closure date.

Other than those with records that E-Verify will purge, the USCIS encouraged employers in general to review their existing forms. This reminder concerns completed Form I-9s, including the verification numbers or E-Verify final confirmation pages. This encouragement includes employers without records at risk of deletion and those who began using the E-Verify system from 2015 onward.

Many employers struggle to comply with I-9 regulations due to the frequent changes in expectations. One popular and effective way to help keep up with such changes is to incorporate an electronic I-9 management system into the onboarding process. This system allows users to record all necessary information in Form I-9s, digitally stores all documents, and offers optional E-Verify integration.

There’s a smarter way to verify your employment eligibility. I-9 Compliance makes things easier on your end with automation. Start today.

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