U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced that Self Check, a free online service of E-Verify that allows workers to check their own employment eligibility status in the United States, is now available in Spanish and accessible to residents in 16 additional states.

Originally launched in March 2011 to residents who reside in Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Mississippi, Virginia, and the District of Columbia, the Self Check online service has been expanded  to residents in the following states: California, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, South Carolina, Texas, Utah and Washington.

Self Check is an online service offered directly to U.S. workers by E-Verify. By using the E-Verify program, employers are able to determine employees' work eligibility via information reported in the employees' Form I-9.

"Self Check equips workers with fast, secure access to their employment eligibility information before they apply for jobs," USCIS Director Alejandro Mayorkas said via a media release. "By offering Self Check to Spanish speakers and making the services more widely available, USCIS makes good on a promise to streamline and protect the integrity of the E-Verify process for employees and employers alike."

USCIS expects to expand the Self Check online service nationwide by spring 2012. More information can be found by visiting the USCIS website or clicking here.