PHOTO MATCHING TOOL FOR DESIGNATED AGENTS

WHAT IS PHOTO MATCHING?

Photo Matching for Designated Agents will be an automatic part of the E-Verify process
starting in December 2009. This feature is also referred to as the “Photo Screening Tool.”
Photo Matching will prompt you to compare an employee’s DHS-issued photo document
with a photo displayed in E-Verify to help ensure that the documents provided by employees
are valid. This provides greater assurance to your clients that their workforces are
authorized.

HOW DOES IT WORK?

When an employee presents either a Permanent Resident Card (Form I-551) or

Employment Authorization Card (Form I-766) for his or her Form I-9 documentation,
E-Verify will attempt to locate the photo in DHS’ records for that individual during the
verification process. If the photo is located, it will be displayed and you will be asked to
indicate whether the photo on the screen matches the photo on the document. After
selecting “yes” or “no,” the initial verification results will be displayed. If E-Verify cannot
locate the photo on record for the individual, the photo will not be displayed and the case will
continue as usual without delay.

WHAT WILL CHANGE WITH THE PHOTO MATCHING TOOL?

• Tutorial: After Photo Matching becomes a part of the verification process for Designated
Agents, all Designated Agent E-Verify users will be prompted to take a short tutorial and
pass a brief knowledge test the next time they log in. The tutorial should only take 15
minutes and will instruct you on how to perform photo matching.
• Manual: An updated User Manual, which will include instructions on photo matching, will
be available in the Online Resources section of E-Verify.
• Tentative Nonconfirmation Process: If the employee receives a Tentative
Nonconfirmation (TNC), all the steps are the same except that you must express mail a
copy of the document and the referral letter to DHS if the employee chooses to contest
the TNC. Alternatively, you may upload an electronic copy of the document.
• Tentative Nonconfirmation Notices: The DHS Notice of Tentative Nonconfirmation and
DHS Referral letter will look different, and contain information specific to photo matching.
The notices will still be pre-filled and available in both English and Spanish.
HOW SHOULD I PREPARE?
• Make Copies: If the employee presents a Permanent Resident Card (Form I-551) or
Employment Authorization Card (Form I-766) for Section 2 of Form I-9, copies of these
documents must be made. Not all documents need to be copied; copying the documents is
required only if the employee presents one of the two forms listed above.
• Discuss With Your Clients: Discuss with your clients the best way to obtain a clear copy of
the employee’s Permanent Resident Card (Form I-551) or Employment Authorization Card
(Form I-766) for the purpose of photo matching. E-Verify suggests digital file transmission
(such as scan and email), because faxing degrades photo quality and postal mail may delay
the verification process beyond the three-day rule. Also, with a digital copy of the employee’s
document, you will be able to easily upload it in E-Verify if the employee decides to contest a
TNC due to a photo mismatch, saving you the cost of express mail.

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