The E-Verify system is an extremely effective online tool designed to help businesses ensure that the individuals they're hiring are authorized to work in the United States. The program is free of charge to the 600,000 employers who use it. However, on June 16, 2016, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced they would lock the accounts of any employers who had not accessed theirs for 270 days, according to the immigration lawyers at New York City's Berd & Klauss, PLLC.

These account lockouts, which began on the first of August, are most likely to impact small business owners who may not make new hires very often. Other employers who use the program frequently shouldn't encounter any problems. However, Berd & Klauss, PLLC's immigration lawyers recommend accessing your account at least once every 270 days to prevent inconvenient lockouts.

According to USCIS, employers who have already set up a security question should be able to unlock their E-Verify accounts fairly easily. However, if you haven't taken this step, you may have to contact E-Verify to have yours unlocked, which could result in irritating and potentially costly delays. To prevent these difficulties in the future, Berd & Klauss, PLLC recommends setting up a security question as soon as you gain access to your account.

The immigration lawyers at Berd & Klauss, PLLC have extensive experience with almost every aspect of immigration law, having helped clients from around the world resolve a variety of legal difficulties. Whether you're an employer who needs assistance navigating the authorization process or an immigrant with questions about obtaining a visa, you can rely on this experienced team for effective representation. Visit their website to learn more about their range of services, or call (212) 461-7152 to schedule a consultation with an immigration attorney today.