- Illinois employers may not rely solely on SSA “no-match,” IRS discrepancy notices, or similar third-party notifications to take disciplinary or termination action.
- Employers must meet strict notice, timing, and communication requirements, including providing employees an opportunity to respond and to involve a representative.
- Employees, the attorney general, and designated advocacy organizations may bring civil
Social Security Administration
E-Verify Is Available and Operational as Government Shutdown Continues
Without notice, E-Verify appeared back online late on the evening of Oct. 7, 2025. As of 2:00 p.m. (ET) on Oct. 8, 2025, E-Verify is still online and appears fully operable. Employers can resume submitting cases.
The E-Verify website had gone dark on Oct. 1, as expected, due to the federal government shutdown. Visitors to…
Immigration Considerations in a Government Shutdown
By Amy L. Peck & Otieno B. Ombok on
Posted in Compliance and Enforcement, Congress, Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Department of Labor, Department of State, E-3, Fees and Penalties, H-1B, H-2B, I-9 and E-Verify, J-1 Exchange Visitors, J-1 Trainees, Other Non-immigrant Visas, PERM, Permanent Residence, Social Security Administration, Temporary (Non-immigrant) Work Visas, Trump Administration, US Immigration, USCIS
The current government funding expired at the end of the fiscal year without a continuing resolution, resulting in a government shutdown. A federal government shutdown can create ripple effects across immigration processes, but the impact varies depending on the agency.
Since USCIS is fee-funded, most operations — like processing petitions and applications — continue as…
SSA Pauses Automatic Issuance of SSNs for Certain Immigration Applicants
Takeaways
- As of March 19, 2025, the SSA has paused automatic SSN issuance for many immigrant applicants, including those receiving new work permits and newly naturalized citizens.
- Affected individuals must now apply in person at SSA offices.
- Employers should adjust onboarding processes accordingly and educate HR teams to avoid disruptions.
The Social Security Administration (SSA)…
Illinois Enacts Additional Employee Protections on Employers’ E-Verify Use
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker has signed an amendment to the Illinois Right to Privacy in the Workplace Act that provides additional employee protections regarding employers’ use of E-Verify. The amendment’s effective date is Jan. 1, 2025, and applies to both private and public employers.
Illinois already had specific rules to ensure that E-Verify is…
USCIS Updates Form N-400 Application for Naturalization
- Social Security Update: Applicants will have the option to complete additional questions to request an original or replacement Social Security card and to
Will Reopening of Social Security Administration Offices Ease E-Verify No-Match Backlogs?
The Social Security Administration (SSA) has reached an agreement with three of its unions on its COVID-19 re-entry plan.
SSA offices have been essentially closed to the public since March 2020. That affected SSA’s ability to resolve E-Verify Tentative Nonconfirmations (TNCs) due to a no-match between a person’s name and Social Security Number. The result…
No-Match Letters Discontinued
By Michael H. Neifach & Amy L. Peck on
Posted in COVID-19, Social Security Administration
The Social Security Administration (SSA) has stated that it has discontinued mailing No-Match letters (also known as EDCOR notifications) to employers.
SSA stated that it plans to focus instead on making it easier for employers to fix errors electronically through its Business Services Online Portal.
Immigration advocates and many employers welcomed the announcement, particularly as…
Pandemic-Based E-Verify TNC Temporary Extensions to End
E-Verify will no longer allow extensions for addressing Tentative Nonconfirmations (TNCs) beginning November 5, 2020.
After relaxing processing guidelines because of processing hardships due to COVID-19, E-Verify is again enforcing its requirement that employees choosing to contest TNC notifications must take action to contact the appropriate government agency within 10 federal government workdays.
TNCs are…
Government Guidance on How Ineligible Individuals can Return COVID-19 Stimulus Payment
On May 11, 2020, the IRS issued guidance about how to return an Economic Impact Payment (EIP), also known as a COVID-19 stimulus payment. Ineligible individuals who receive EIPs are required to return them.
Resident and Nonresident Alien EIP Eligibility
The IRS guidance indicates that:
- A person who is a nonresident alien in 2020 is
…