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A representative from the South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation (LLR) will be in Chesterfield, Marlboro, and Dillon counties on Wednesday, June 6, to assist employers in enrolling in E-Verify.

E-Verify is a free Internet-based system maintained by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to confirm employment eligibility of newly-hired workers. E-Verify compares the information an employee provides on the federal Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, against millions of government records maintained by the Department of Homeland Security and the Social Security Administration.

The database generally provides results in three to five seconds. If the information matches, the employee is eligible to work in the United States. If there’s a mismatch, E-Verify will alert the employer, and the employee will be allowed to work while he or she resolves the problem.

South Carolina law, since Jan. 1, 2012, has required every employer to enroll in E-Verify and E-Verify newly-hired employees. The Department of LLR’s Office of Immigrant Worker Compliance is conducting random audits of employers to determine compliance.

During the first six months of enforcement (January 1 to June 30), where LLR establishes that an employer has hired an employee without E-Verifying the new hire, there are no penalties if the employer affirms in writing that it will enroll in E-Verify and E-Verify all new hires in the future.

However, beginning July 1, 2012, the law requires that employers who fail to E-Verify new hires be placed on probation for one year. During the probationary period, the employer must submit quarterly reports to LLR demonstrating compliance with the law. If the employer is cited for a second violation of failure to E-Verify a new employee within three years of the first violation, LLR must suspend the employer’s right to operate the business for at least 10 days, but not more than 30 days.

Here is the schedule and location for E-Verify assistance June 6: Public Library, 227 Huger St., Cheraw, 10 to 11 a.m. Marlboro County Chamber of Commerce, 304 W. Main St., Bennettsville, 11:30 to 12:30 p.m. Dillon County Library, 600 E. Main St., Dillon, 1:30 to 2:30 p.m.

For further information, contact the Department of LLR’s Office of Immigrant Worker Compliance via e-mail at immigrantinfo@llr.sc.gov or by calling 803-896-2606.