Effective May 4, 2022, Utah private employers with 150 or more employees may not hire new employees on or after May 4, 2022, unless they are registered with and use an employment status verification system, such as E-Verify to verify the federal legal work status of new employees. Previously, the law applied to employers with 15 or more employees.
This law does not apply to a private employer of a foreign national if the foreign national holds a visa issued in response to a petition by the private employer that is classified as H-2A or H-2B.
Next Steps for Employers
For those employers who previously were not subject to use of E-Verify, it is recommended that they familiarize themselves with E-Verify’s requirements by visiting the E-Verify website. Employers should also begin reviewing their recruitment and hiring practices to ensure that human resource professional or those who are responsible for employment verification are aware of this new requirement and understand how to use the E-Verify system, including the resolution of any tentative non-confirmations that may result. Additionally, any internal onboarding procedures including new hire checklists should be updated to include using E-Verify, in addition to, completion of the Form I-9.