Beginning April 3, 2025, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) implemented a terminology update in the E-Verify and E-Verify+ systems to align with statutory language.

Key Update: Citizenship Status Terminology

In the E-Verify and E-Verify+ systems, the citizenship status option previously labeled as “A noncitizen authorized to work” has been updated to “An alien authorized to work”. This change reflects the statutory language and aims to ensure consistency across employment verification processes. USCIS

Implications for Employers

• Consistency Between Form I-9 and E-Verify: Employers must ensure that the citizenship or immigration status selected in E-Verify matches the attestation provided by the employee on Form I-9. For instance, if an employee selects “An alien authorized to work” on Form I-9, the employer should select the same option in E-Verify.

• Form I-9 Editions: Depending on the edition of Form I-9 being used, employers and employees may see either the updated or previous terminology. However, E-Verify cases will display the updated term “An alien authorized to work”. USCIS

• E-Verify Web Services Applications: For users creating cases through E-Verify Web Services applications, the system will automatically update the employee status attestation to “An alien authorized to work” if the employee selected the corresponding citizenship status on Form I-9. USCIS

Action Steps for Employers

• Review and Update Procedures: Ensure that your onboarding and employment verification procedures reflect the updated terminology.

• Train HR Personnel: Educate human resources staff on the importance of consistency between Form I-9 and E-Verify entries to maintain compliance.

• Monitor Form Editions: Be aware of the Form I-9 edition dates in use within your organization, as different editions may display varying terminology.

For more detailed information, you can refer to the official USCIS announcement: USCIS.