Verifying employment eligibility: The Basic Pilot Program

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When you chide a small businessman for hiring illegal aliens, he will often describe the difficulties of verifying Social Security numbers and work visas. However, ignorance of available resources may be the real problem.

In place since 1997, the Basic Pilot Program is available online for any U.S. employer wanting to verify the eligibility of prospective employees. The program allows employers to check new hire data against information on file with the Citizenship and Immigration Service as well as the Social Security Administration.

The program is not perfect; there is the expected amount of flawed data. But it is apparently a good start toward ensuring that America’s jobs go to those who are eligible to hold them.

Here are a couple of additional resources online regarding the Basic Pilot Program: