E-Verify Enrollment in Memphis, Tennessee (2026)
Without enrolling in E-Verify, your Memphis restaurant cannot legally hire new employees, risking daily fines and a shutdown of your hiring process. You must complete this federal enrollment, also called participation in the Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification System, with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (USCIS) to comply with the Memphis and Shelby County Employment Preparation and Placement Ordinance. Key facts:
- 40 fields — ApronPrep auto-fills 33 with your stored business information.
- $0–$0 government filing fees — there is no direct fee to enroll.
- Varies processing timeline — activation depends on the verification of your authorized representative.
Most applicants complete this in under 15 minutes with ApronPrep, which auto-fills 33 of 40 fields.
Analyzed from E-Verify Enrollment
82% from one compliance interview
Manual entry or document upload required
Why You Need a E-Verify Enrollment
Your enrollment in the federal E-Verify system is mandated for most Memphis employers to comply with the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) and the Immigration Reform and Control Act (IRCA). The City of Memphis, following Tennessee state law (Public Chapter No. 281, often called the "Tennessee Lawful Employment Act"), requires certain employers to use the E-Verify program or request specific documentation to confirm work authorization. This mandate is enforced by city and state authorities to ensure a legal workforce, and non-compliance is not an option for operating a legitimate business.
Failure to properly enroll and use E-Verify can trigger significant legal and operational consequences. Based on ApronPrep's analysis of federal and state enforcement, the primary risks include:
- Civil Fines: Per federal guidelines, fines for substantive or technical I-9 violations can range from $252 to $2,507 per violation for a first offense, escalating dramatically for repeat violations (up to $25,076 per violation for certain patterns). The Tennessee Department of Labor & Workforce Development also has authority to levy state-level penalties.
- Business Suspension: For Tennessee employers, state law can result in the suspension of business licenses for repeated non-compliance, effectively forcing a cease-and-desist of operations.
- Loss of Government Contracts: Many federal and state contracts require E-Verify enrollment; lacking it disqualifies you from this revenue stream.
- Reputational & Legal Risk: Criminal penalties, including imprisonment, can apply for a pattern or practice of knowingly hiring unauthorized workers. Furthermore, insurance providers or lenders may view non-compliance as a material risk, potentially impacting your coverage or lease agreements.
Legal code: Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), Immigration Reform and Control Act (IRCA)
Recent update: As of 2026, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security has maintained the E-Verify Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with enhanced data privacy provisions, and Tennessee continues to actively enforce its state-level verification requirements for employers in Memphis.
Who Needs a E-Verify Enrollment?
| Type | Required | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Restaurant (Full-Service) | Required | The Tennessee Lawful Employment Act (T.C.A. § 50-1-701) mandates E-Verify use for all private employers with 6 or more employees. |
| Bar / Nightclub | Required | Required for private employers in Tennessee under T.C.A. § 50-1-701, provided they meet the 6-employee threshold. |
| Food Truck | Required | A food truck owner is considered an employer and must comply with T.C.A. § 50-1-701 if they have 6 or more full-time, part-time, or seasonal workers. |
| Coffee Shop / Café | Required | Required if the business employs 6 or more individuals, per the state mandate in T.C.A. § 50-1-701. |
See which restaurant types need this requirement — and which don't.
See Full Requirements →Field-by-Field Guide (40 Fields)
33 of 40 auto-filledLegal Business Name
textEnter the exact legal name of your business as registered with the Tennessee Secretary of State or the IRS, which must match the name on your federal EIN letter or Articles of Incorporation.
COMMON MISTAKE: Using a DBA name here instead of the registered legal entity name is a top cause of application rejection, as the name must match official IRS and state records for verification.
DBA/Trade Name
textEnter the 'Doing Business As' or trade name you use publicly for your restaurant if it differs from your legal business name; leave blank if your legal name and public name are the same.
COMMON MISTAKE: Leaving this blank when you operate under a DBA can create discrepancies in federal verification systems, potentially delaying your Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Department of Homeland Security.
Federal EIN
textEnter your 9-digit Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN) in the format XX-XXXXXXX, which can be found on your IRS CP-575 or 147C confirmation letter.
COMMON MISTAKE: Entering a Social Security Number (SSN) or an incorrect EIN format (e.g., missing hyphens) will cause immediate rejection, as the E-Verify system performs a real-time validation against IRS records.
Business Structure
textEnter your formal business entity type, such as 'Limited Liability Company (LLC)', 'Corporation', 'Sole Proprietorship', or 'Partnership', as registered with the Tennessee Secretary of State.
COMMON MISTAKE: Using informal or incorrect terms like 'restaurant' or 'family business' instead of the precise legal structure will fail the E-Verify system's validation checks.
Street Address
textEnter the complete physical street address of your restaurant location, including suite or unit number, where employees report for work and employment records are maintained.
COMMON MISTAKE: Using a P.O. Box, home address, or an incorrect Memphis city limit address can invalidate the application, as the address must match the location where you will run E-Verify queries.
City
textEnter 'Memphis' as the city for your restaurant's physical location; do not abbreviate or use a neighboring municipality name like 'Bartlett' or 'Germantown' unless your address is legally within those jurisdictions.
COMMON MISTAKE: Entering an incorrect city that doesn't match the USPS address for your ZIP code will trigger a geolocation mismatch in the E-Verify system, requiring manual correction.
State
textEnter the two-letter state abbreviation 'TN' for Tennessee; using the full state name 'Tennessee' is also acceptable but less common on federal forms.
COMMON MISTAKE: Using an outdated abbreviation or leaving this field blank is a low-risk error but can cause minor processing delays with the federal system.
ZIP Code
textEnter the 5-digit ZIP code for your restaurant's physical address; include the 4-digit extension (ZIP+4) only if the form provides a separate field or explicitly requests it.
COMMON MISTAKE: Entering the ZIP code for a P.O. Box or a mailing address that differs from the physical address will cause a validation failure with the U.S. Postal Service database used by E-Verify.
Different Mailing Address
checkboxCheck this box only if your official mailing address for receiving government correspondence (like your E-Verify MOU) is different from the restaurant's physical street address entered above.
COMMON MISTAKE: Checking this box but failing to complete the subsequent mailing address fields in Section 4 will leave the application incomplete and cause rejection for missing required information.
Mailing Street Address
textIf you checked 'Different Mailing Address', enter the complete street address or P.O. Box where you want all E-Verify system notices and legal documents sent.
COMMON MISTAKE: Entering the same address as the physical location when the 'Different Mailing Address' box is checked creates a data inconsistency that the system flags for manual review, adding 3–5 business days to processing.
ApronPrep auto-fills 33 of 40 fields from a single compliance interview — no re-typing, no guessing what the government expects.
Top 5 E-Verify Enrollment Mistakes
1. Entering an Incorrect Federal EIN or SSN
Entering a typo in your Federal Employer Identification Number (EIN) or Social Security Number causes an instant I-9 verification failure in E-Verify, halting all employee onboarding. Based on ApronPrep's analysis, this is the most frequent error, typically caused by transposing numbers or using a company's state tax ID instead of the federal EIN. Double-check your IRS EIN confirmation letter (Form CP 575 or 147C) before submission to avoid a complete work stoppage that can delay hiring by several days.
2. Submitting with an Unregistered DUNS Number or Wrong NAICS Code
Using a D-U-N-S Number not registered to your exact business location or selecting an inaccurate 6-digit NAICS code triggers a data mismatch with the SSA and DHS, rejecting your enrollment. For example, a Memphis restaurant choosing 'Full-Service Restaurants' (722511) instead of 'Limited-Service Restaurants' (722513) can fail verification. Always verify your D-U-N-S Number through Dun & Bradstreet and confirm your primary NAICS code via the Census Bureau website to prevent a rejection that requires a full re-application, adding 1-2 weeks to your timeline.
3. Failing to List All Hiring Sites in Memphis
Enrolling only your primary corporate address but omitting a separate Memphis hiring location (e.g., a second kitchen or a catering office) violates the requirement to cover all sites where you complete Form I-9. This creates a compliance gap where new hires at the unlisted site cannot be processed through E-Verify, risking fines under the Tennessee Lawful Employment Act. Before submitting, map every physical Memphis address where you will employ workers to ensure your MOU covers them all, avoiding potential penalties and operational delays.
Skip the Paperwork on Your E-Verify Enrollment
ApronPrep auto-fills 33 of 40 fields from one compliance interview.
No credit card required
E-Verify Enrollment by City in Tennessee
| City | Fee Range | Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| Knoxville | ||
| Memphis | ||
| Nashville |
Timeline: 2–6 weeks for enrollment verification
Review E-Verify Terms of Use & Employer Requirements
Read the USCIS Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and Tennessee’s Public Chapter 1081, which mandates enrollment for public contractors and subcontractors. You must have a Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN), a Dun & Bradstreet DUNS number (recommended), and an administrative contact ready. Accepting the MOU’s terms is legally binding; not understanding photo matching or tentative non-confirmation (TNC) procedures is a common source of future compliance violations.
Initiate Enrollment via the E-Verify Website
Go to the official E-Verify website and select ‘Enroll’ under the Employers section. You will need your FEIN, company’s legal business name and address exactly as it appears on your IRS Form SS-4, and principal officer information. The system will prompt you to create a user profile for your company administrator. The most frequent point of failure is entering a ‘doing business as’ (DBA) name instead of the exact legal name registered with the IRS, which will halt the process.
Complete & Submit the Online Enrollment Form
Fill out the multi-page web form, specifying your company’s North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code, number of hiring sites, and selecting a customer support representative (CSR). You must designate which employees will be authorized users. In Memphis, if you are a public contractor, you must indicate this to ensure compliance with state law. Save your 6-digit enrollment case number immediately after submission; losing it delays verification.
Other Requirements You'll Need
This is one of 13 requirements for opening a restaurant in Tennessee.
ADA Compliance Self-Certification
federal
Alarm System Permit/Registration
local
Alcohol Server Training Certification
state
Annual Report Filing
state
See all co-required forms and how they connect to your compliance dossier.
See All RequirementsProcessing times are not published by the issuing authority and vary on a case-by-case basis. Contact the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) E-Verify program to get current processing estimates for your specific business type. Unlike the defined timelines for a local City Business License/Registration, E-Verify enrollment relies on federal verification processes.
Government filing fees for the federal E-Verify program itself are $0–$0, per the official USCIS fee schedule. However, employers in Tennessee must also comply with a related state requirement, the Annual Report Filing, which carries its own separate state fee. There are no direct local charges from the City of Memphis for E-Verify enrollment.
You cannot transfer an enrollment; you must update your company's physical address within the E-Verify system. This update is mandatory if you move your business, as the program requires an accurate work site location for employment eligibility verification. You must complete this update before verifying any new hires at the new address.
You do not renew an E-Verify enrollment like a local permit. Enrollment is a one-time, ongoing agreement with the federal government, valid as long as you continue to use the system and comply with its rules. However, you must re-verify your company information annually within the E-Verify system to keep your account active and in good standing.
There is no physical inspection for E-Verify enrollment. The process involves an online system audit where USCIS verifies your business information and ensures you understand the required procedures, like completing Form I-9. Non-compliance can trigger a federal audit of your employment records, which is separate from local health or building inspections for permits like a Certificate of Occupancy.
About This Data
This guide is generated from ApronPrep's compliance dossier system, which uses 53 parallel AI authority experts to discover requirements, then downloads actual forms and generates field-level intelligence for each one.
For Tennessee specifically, we have analyzed compliance dossiers for 3 cities (Knoxville, Memphis, Nashville), generating Rich FILs (Form Intelligence Layers) with 40 form fields analyzed for this requirement. Fee data is sourced from actual county department fee schedules, not estimates.
Our data is verified against official government sources and updated when regulatory changes are detected. If you find an error, please report it — accuracy is our core commitment.
Sources
- Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), Immigration Reform and Control Act (IRCA)
This Form Is One of 60+ Requirements.
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