E-Verify and the October 2025 Government Shutdown

With another government shutdown expected on October 1, 2025, HR teams face renewed uncertainty over how E-Verify will be impacted.

At i9 Intelligence, we’ve guided employers through multiple shutdowns. Based on past events and system protocols, here’s what HR leaders should expect—and the adjustments we’ve already built into our platform to keep your organization protected.

E-Verify Will Likely Go Offline

During a shutdown, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) typically suspends E-Verify operations. Employers can expect:

• No ability to create or update cases
• No resolution of pending Tentative Nonconfirmations (TNCs)
• No access to myE-Verify tools like Self Check or Self Lock
• Suspension of E-Verify support and training sessions

For organizations using E-Verify+, the impact extends further since the program relies on myE-Verify for Section 1 completion.

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Form I-9 Requirements Remain in Effect

Shutdown or not, Form I-9 compliance is non-negotiable. Employers must continue to:

• Have employees complete Section 1 by day one of employment
• Review original documents and complete Section 2 within three business days
• Retain all completed I-9s in secure storage

E-Verify never replaces Form I-9—it supplements it.

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Deadlines Are Typically Extended

USCIS has historically provided flexibility during shutdowns:

• Three-Day Rule Suspended: Employers may submit delayed cases once E-Verify resumes without penalty.
• TNC Resolution Extended: Employees are given additional time to resolve mismatches, and employers must not take adverse action while the system is down.

Employers should track all pending cases carefully and be ready to resume once services return.

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i9 Intelligence Platform Adjustments

To reduce compliance risk, i9 Intelligence implements system-level safeguards for clients the moment a shutdown is confirmed:

1. Background Services Paused – Automatic E-Verify submissions are temporarily disabled.
2. Notifications Disabled – Email alerts for pending E-Verify actions are suspended.
3. Dashboard Transparency – Pending cases remain visible, but the E-Verify tab is greyed out to prevent manual submissions.
4. Automatic Resumption – Once E-Verify is restored, services resume, queued cases are submitted, and all delayed submissions are flagged with “Gov’t Shutdown” for documentation.

These adjustments ensure compliance continuity and eliminate manual guesswork for HR teams.

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After the Shutdown Ends

Employers should be prepared to:

• Submit all new hire cases created during the shutdown.
• Work with employees to resolve any TNCs.
• Federal contractors should notify contracting officers of any missed FAR deadlines.

With i9 Intelligence, these steps are automated—helping you catch up quickly and stay compliant.

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Final Takeaway

Government shutdowns may disrupt E-Verify, but they don’t pause your compliance obligations. Employers must continue completing Form I-9s, documenting cases, and resuming E-Verify actions as soon as systems are restored.

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At i9 Intelligence, we’ve built safeguards into our compliance platform to ensure your hiring process stays audit-ready—shutdown or not.

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Explore our I-9 compliance platform to see how we simplify compliance in any environment.