South Carolina E-Verify

South Carolina's labor agency has declared that the phase-in period the state's immigration requirements are over. It warned businesses that they must check the legal status of new employees through E-verify or face immediate penalties.

New employees must be verified through the system within three business days of being hired.

"There is no free bite at the apple after July 1," said Jim Knight, who oversees immigration compliance for the Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation.

The first violation brings a one-year probation, requiring the business to submit quarterly reports to the agency. If another violation occurs within three years, the business will be shut down for between 10 and 30 days through a temporary suspension of its operating licenses.

A first offense puts the business on the agency's website for six months. A second violation means the employer becomes permanently posted.

For more information, visit www.dhs.gov/e-verify