An E-Verify mismatch, also called a Tentative Nonconfirmation, does not necessarily mean you lack authorization to work in the United States. If you have two surnames, check the name entered in the case against your records and follow the notice: SSA recognizes multipart family names, but that does not authorize dropping or reversing a surname to make a case match.
Quick summary: Read and respond to the Further Action Notice and tell your employer whether you will take action within 10 federal government working days after E-Verify issued the mismatch result. The later deadline to contact DHS or visit SSA is on your Referral Date Confirmation. We could not confirm a guaranteed SSA correction time or acceptance of a Guatemalan DPI or consular ID for this correction. USA.gov says Social Security card replacements are free and name changes use the card replacement process.
Steps to respond
- Review the Further Action Notice. Check your name, date of birth and Social Security number as entered into E-Verify. Tell your employer immediately if anything is incorrect. The notice explains the mismatch, how to contact DHS and/or visit SSA, and the information you will need.
- Decide and notify your employer. Complete the initial review, response and notification within 10 federal government working days after E-Verify issued the mismatch case result. This is the decision window; do not substitute it for the deadline after referral.
- Use the referral instructions. If you choose to take action, your employer refers the case to DHS and/or SSA and gives you a Referral Date Confirmation. Follow its date for contacting DHS and/or visiting SSA.
- Follow the relevant agency route. For DHS, create or sign in to myE-Verify to submit the required employment-authorization documents electronically, then call 888-897-7781 (TTY: 877-875-6028). If you cannot create an account, call those numbers for help with your case. The SSA route is a visit to an SSA field office. Follow your notice if both agencies are involved.
These instructions come from the E-Verify mismatch process. While your case remains pending with DHS and/or SSA, your employer cannot take adverse action because you chose to resolve the mismatch: this includes terminating or suspending employment, withholding pay or training, delaying a start date, or otherwise limiting employment. The E-Verify process also states that an employer may terminate employment if you choose not to take action or do not notify the employer of your decision within the decision window.
Documents and their roles
This table explains the documents and the information we could not confirm. It is not a universal document checklist for every correction; use the information requested in your Further Action Notice.
| Document or record | What the sources establish | Limit or missing information |
|---|---|---|
| Immigration document | SSA’s policy manual (POMS) says it generally treats the name on the presented immigration document, including hyphens and apostrophes, as the legal name of a foreign-born person. | Do not assume a different surname order is acceptable merely because a foreign-evidence example mentions it. |
| Guatemalan passport: Pasaporte | The official Guatemala schedule identifies the document. SSA allows processing in the immigration-document name when that name can be derived from other evidence, such as a foreign passport. | This is a general SSA rule applied to a Guatemalan document, not a special Guatemalan exception or a promise that a passport alone resolves the case. |
| RENAP birth record: Certificado de Nacimiento | Establishes the legal name at birth. The Guatemala reciprocity schedule directs applicants to RENAP and requires front and back of the certificate. | SSA does not accept a birth record as an identity document. The State Department description is not an SSA-specific checklist. |
| Evidence not in English | SSA’s review instructions provide for requesting a translation and entering the application pending receipt of translation. General translation policy prioritizes an authorized SSA translator in the servicing field office. | SSA’s dedicated SSN translation page could not be found when checked on October 22, 2026. We could not confirm a universal applicant-paid or privately certified translation requirement. |
| Guatemalan DPI or consular ID | Not confirmed in the sources checked | We could not confirm acceptance for this correction. |
Guatemalan surnames and records
SSA’s legal-name policy recognizes that a family name may have more than one part. SSA’s policy manual (POMS) says it generally uses the name on the presented immigration document for foreign-born applicants. When that name differs from other SSN evidence, SSA can process the application in the immigration-document name if it can be derived from the other evidence, such as a foreign passport.
SSA’s name-entry policy permits spaces, hyphens and apostrophes in SSNAP, SSA’s application system. The SSN card prints the name as entered there, while the Numident display, SSA’s number record, follows different rules: in middle and last names, spaces remain, hyphens become a space, and apostrophes are removed along with the resulting space. The source examples are RANDLE EL, JONES-DREW displayed as JONES DREW, and O’SULLIVAN displayed as OSULLIVAN. A display difference does not by itself establish which information caused your mismatch.
The foreign-evidence policy illustrates compound-surname discrepancies with Sanchez Diaz vs Diaz Sanchez vs Sanchez vs Diaz. It says compound surnames may reflect both parents’ surnames or marriage. These are foreign-evidence examples, not instructions to reorder a name on an E-Verify case.
For Guatemalan documents, the State Department reciprocity schedule names the passport Pasaporte and the birth document Certificado de Nacimiento. It directs birth-certificate applicants to RENAP rather than their city or town and requires both front and back. SSA’s birth-record policy separates proof of the name at birth from proof of current identity; a birth certificate does not replace an identity document.
For related document arrangements, see our Guatemalan passport from the USA guide, birth certificate and apostille guide and consulate finder. These links do not establish an SSA apostille requirement.
Translations
SSA’s evidence-review instructions address evidence that is not in English and lacks an acceptable translation: staff request a translation and may enter the application pending receipt. SSA’s general translation policy prioritizes an authorized SSA translator in the servicing field office. We could not confirm a requirement to buy a particular translation service before visiting SSA. SSA’s dedicated SSN translation page could not be found, so we cannot confirm its additional requirements.
What happens next and unconfirmed values
The E-Verify process says to wait for your employer to communicate the final result; the case updates automatically based on DHS and/or SSA updates. We could not confirm a universal deadline after referral or a guaranteed SSA correction time. Use the individual Referral Date Confirmation.
| Value | Recorded value | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Social Security card replacement, including a name change | Free | USA.gov says name changes use the card replacement process. |
| Universal deadline after referral | Not confirmed in the sources checked | The source points to the individual Referral Date Confirmation. |
| Guaranteed SSA correction time | Not confirmed in the sources checked | We could not confirm a guaranteed time. |
| Acceptance of a Guatemalan DPI or consular ID | Not confirmed in the sources checked | Not established for this correction. |
This is not legal advice; consult a DOJ-accredited representative or immigration attorney for questions about your individual case.
Frequently asked questions
Does a mismatch mean I cannot work?
No. E-Verify says a DHS and/or SSA mismatch does not necessarily mean you are not authorized to work in the United States.
Should I remove or reverse a surname?
Do not treat the compound-surname examples as permission to change name order in an E-Verify case. Check the case entry and the immigration document; SSA’s policy manual (POMS) says it generally uses the immigration-document name for a foreign-born person.
Is the decision window also the SSA visit deadline?
No. Complete the initial response and notify your employer of your decision within 10 federal government working days after E-Verify issued the mismatch result. After referral, use the date on your Referral Date Confirmation.
Can a RENAP birth certificate prove my current identity to SSA?
SSA says a birth record establishes the legal name at birth but is not accepted as an identity document. The State Department describes the Guatemalan document as Certificado de Nacimiento, issued through RENAP.
Can I use my Guatemalan DPI or consular ID, and how long will correction take?
We could not confirm SSA acceptance of either Guatemalan document for this correction or a guaranteed correction time. Those values remain unconfirmed; follow your case notice rather than an assumed timetable.
Sources and dates checked
E-Verify and SSA sources were checked on October 22, 2026; the State Department’s Guatemala information was checked on October 8, 2026. Times are in UTC.
SSA’s dedicated SSN translation page could not be found when checked on October 22, 2026. Its requirements could not be verified.
