The USCIS announced in late July 2006 that more than 10,000 U.S. employers have signed up for the voluntary Basic Pilot Employment Verification Program, approximately 200 newly registered each month.

Basic Pilot Employment Verification Program involves verification checks through Social Security Administration (SSA) databases, and, if needed, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) databases. The Social Security Number and Alien Registration Number are used for these checks. And the employer must complete the I-9 form for all newly hired employees, within 3 days of hiring.

Through this program, employers have verified employment authorization for more than one million new employees in a year. It is very helpful for employers that are committed to complying with immigration laws. It gives employers the ability to make sure that they are on the right side of the law. It may also serve to demonstrate the need for more workers in certain categories, if employers are unable to find employees with properly verifiable authorization, despite their best efforts.