Due to the pandemic, in March 2020, E-Verify extended the timeframe employees had to contest their Tentative Non-confirmations (TNCs). This extension was due in part to the Social Security Administration (SSA) closing their offices to the public. Many referred TNCs have not received final responses. E-Verify will begin updating some referred TNCs with final responses.
What Is A TNC?
An SSA or Department of Homeland Security (DHS) TNC results when the information entered in E-Verify does not match SSA records or data available to DHS. A TNC does not necessarily mean that the employee is not authorized to work in the United States.
An SSA TNC may be issued because the employee’s:
- Citizenship or immigration status was not updated with SSA
- Name change was not reported to SSA
- Name, Social Security number or date of birth is incorrect in SSA records
- SSA record contains another type of mismatch
- Information was not entered correctly by the employer
A DHS TNC may be issued because the employee’s
- Name, A-number, I-94 number and/or foreign passport number were recorded incorrectly in DHS records
- U.S. Passport, Passport Card, driver’s license or state ID card information could not be verified
- Information was not updated in the employee’s DHS records
- Citizenship or immigration status changed
- Record contains another type of error
- Information was not entered correctly by the employer
When a TNC occurs both the employer and employee have responsibilities when E-Verify returns a TNC. If the employee is successful in resolving the mismatch, SSA or DHS will update its records and the case in E-Verify. Additional information on employer and employee responsibilities is available here.
Next Steps for Employers
To complete the E-Verify process, employers are required to close every case, including those cases that were recently updated with final responses. However, E-Verify will automatically close cases that receive a result of Employment Authorized.
Employers must close cases that were created in error, with incorrect information, or for employees who are no longer employed. Incomplete cases must also be closed.
Cases that are in a status of “Referred”, “Verification In Process”, or “Case in Continuance” are exceptions as these cases cannot be closed until final case results are issued.
Employers may refer to the E-Verify User Manual Section 4.1 and the E-Verify Quick Reference Guide for Employers for assistance and additional guidance on closing cases or email DHS at E-Verify@uscis.dhs.gov.
