Immigration Resources

Go to https://www.audits.ga.gov/auth to create a login/password and then request access to the immigration collection system.

Yes. You will have to submit a file in either .CSV or .TXT format. See here for contractor reporting. See here for business license reporting.

The system allows for multiple users. This will allow each person responsible for their part of the report to upload their information separately. For example, if your government has one person who is responsible for collecting the E-Verify Contractor report information yet another is responsible for collecting the Business License information, then both people will be allowed to separately access and submit their part of the report.

The collection system allows the user to see each section of the report and the status for that section. For example, if nothing has been submitted for that section, the status will read “Need Response.” If the section of the report has been completed, the status will read “Confirmed” and will display a blue check mark next to that section of the report.

The collection system shows the person who has submitted each section of the report and the last time and date that each section was accessed.

The collection system allows the user to save their work, even if they have not completed all the requirements of that section.

The collection system has an overview page which will list each component of the report. If that part of the report has been completed, you will see a blue check mark and a the status will read “Confirmed.”

If you see a red flag next to the requested information, then it means that there is something wrong with the information that you have submitted. You will need to correct that information to move forward with the report. Once the error has been corrected, the red flag will be replaced with a green flag.

No. The user can start with any section. However, it is recommended to start with the first section, especially if the report will be submitted by a single user.

Yes. But once the user hits confirm on a section, that section will be locked. The user will have to email immhelp@audits.ga.gov to get their status set back to Started so they can modify this section and reconfirm.

Yes. The collection system allows the user to either upload a report file or to manually enter the information into the system. As a reminder, DOAA will not accept reports sent by email, fax or mailed as a hard copy. All reports, uploaded or manually entered, must be submitted through the online collection system.

While not required by law, the DOAA has requested this information for future auditing purposes. If your government does not have this information, it does not impact your report. This is not a required field.

The E-Verify numbers should be between 4-7 digits long and should not contain any letters. For example, if the number submitted has numerals and letters MLN123, then this is the username and not the actual E-Verify number. Make sure that all E-Verify numbers entered meet the proper criteria.

No. The E-Verify program is operated by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. If you need to register for the program or have registered but don’t know your user identification number or date of authorization, information is available on the USCIS website. The Department of Audits and Accounts is unable to provide assistance with E-Verify program registration.

The authorization date should be in the letter you received the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Please contact USCIS by telephone at 888-464-4218 or e-mail E-Verify@dhs.gov.

No. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) maintains this information and can provide assistance. You can contact USCIS by telephone at 888-464-4218 or e-mail E-Verify@dhs.gov.

You have 2 choices:

1. Enter the information for the omitted contractors individually
2. Contact us at immhelp@audits.ga.gov for instructions for how to submit a new file that includes all of the information. Uploading a new file directly is not supported.

No, a contractor with NO employees and no intent to hire employees shall, in lieu of the affidavit required by O.C.G.A. §13-10-91(b), submit a copy of their state issued driver’s license or identification card. The driver’s license or identification card is acceptable only if it is issued by a state that verifies lawful immigration status prior to issuance.

According to Georgia law (OCGA §13-10-91), before the city or county can contract with a business for the physical performance of services (as that term is defined in OCGA §13-10-90), the contractor must submit an affidavit that they have registered for and use E-Verify. The ONLY exception to this is if you are working with a contractor with no employees and no intent to hire employees. In this case, instead of the affidavit, they must provide you with their driver’s license (and a driver’s license is only acceptable IF it is issued by a state that verifies lawful immigration status prior to issuance).

This contractor is confusing the above requirements in OCGA §13-10-91 with the requirements for getting or renewing a business license from a city or county. The business license requirements are in a different Code section (OCGA §36-60-6). Under the business license provisions, private employers with more than ten employees are required to provide an affidavit (this is a different affidavit from affidavit referred to above) to the city or county stating that they use E-Verify. Private employers with fewer than eleven employees submit a separate affidavit stating that they are exempt from E-Verify. So, although a private employer with ten or less employees may be exempt from registering for E-Verify for the purpose of getting their business license, if they want to contract with a public employer, they are going to have to register for E-Verify if they have ANY employees.

Yes. A contractor is defined in O.C.G.A. §13-10-91 as “a person or entity that enters into a contract for the physical performance of services”.

No. A contractor is defined in OCGA §13-10-91 as “a person or entity that enters into a contract for the physical performance of services”.

Contractors, subcontractors, or sub-subcontractors with no employees and no intent to hire employees for the purpose of completing the terms of the contract can instead provide a copy of their state issued driver’s license or state issued identification card.

It is important to note that a driver’s license or identification card is only accepted in lieu of an affidavit IF it is issued by a STATE within the United States that VERIFIES LAWFUL IMMIGRATION STATUS prior to issuing the driver’s license or identification card. A listing of the states that verify immigration status is available on the Georgia Attorney General’s website.

It is also important to note that if a contractor, subcontractor, or sub-subcontractor later determines that a need exists to hire employees to satisfy or complete the terms of the contract, he or she will first be required to comply with the affidavit requirements of O.C.G.A. §13-10-91(b).

No. You only need to report on contracts that were entered into or renewed in the current reporting period.

All E-Verify numbers should be 4-7 digits (numbers), but we realize that some organizations were not aware of this when they got the affidavits. This year you can use the information you received (with the alpha/numeric combination, or more than 6 digits) but you will get a warning message when you submit the information. Your submission will go through – it is only a warning message.

Next year, you should attempt to get the correct E-Verify number (4-7 digits). If you are uploading a file with incorrectly formatted E-Verify numbers, the file may be rejected. If this happens, you should delete the lines with the incorrectly formatted E-Verify numbers from your file and re-submit. You will need to enter the information for the remaining contractors individually through the system.

Yes. Even if your government does not issue business licenses or certificates, you are still required to complete that section by confirming that you do not.

O.C.G.A §36-80-23(b) states that no local governing body shall enact, adopt, implement or enforce any sanctuary policy. Sanctuary Policy is defined as any regulation, rule, policy, or practice adopted by a local governing body which prohibits or restricts local officials or employees from communicating or cooperating with federal officials or law enforcement officers with regard to reporting immigration status information while such local official or employee is acting within the scope of his or her official duties.

For local authorities, if you are in the Department of Community Affairs database, your authority registered with DCA for 2015. This means you will need to report immigration information for 2015. All other entities should contact immhelp@audits.ga.gov with your specific information.