US Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS) and the Social Security Administration (SSA) have a new information-sharing partnership that now allows foreign nationals in certain categories or classifications to apply for work authorization along with a Social Security number using only one form—namely, the updated Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization.
Read moreAll about E-Verify
Since 1986, employers in the United States have been required to confirm work authorization and verify the identity of their employees whether they are US citizens or foreign nationals. To do so, employers and employees must complete the Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification—which has recently been revised and updated—within the first three business days of the commencement of employment. E-Verify, launched in 1997, was created to add another level of verification. E-Verify is a voluntary (for most) and free, Internet-based system that compares information from an employee's Form I-9 to data from the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Social Security Administration (SSA) records to confirm employment eligibility. Over 600,000 companies are currently enrolled in E-Verify with more than 1,400 new participating companies every week.
Read moreHealthcare, Taxes, and a Mortgage, Oh My!
So your nonimmigrant visa was approved (congratulations!) and you have arrived in the US. Now what? In our experience, many foreign nationals have numerous practical questions as they settle into their new lives in the US—from what they need to sign a lease on an apartment to opening a bank account to getting a driver’s license and more. While we do not intend for this post to give any legal advice (or financial or tax advice, for that matter), we hope to provide general insights to some common questions.
What should I do first?
After entering the US, foreign nationals should print the online version of their I-94 information as soon as possible and make sure that their name, the classification they were admitted in, and all other information is correct. Foreign nationals should also save the printed I-94 in a safe place. The I-94 is important because it specifies the exact amount of time a foreign national is allowed to stay in the US and may differ from the visa stamp. The I-94 is also necessary to gain certain benefits, such as getting a US Social Security number. Foreign nationals should print, check, and save their I-94 information after each time they enter the US.