§21A-5-17c. Service of process on nonresident employer.

If an employer is not a resident of West Virginia, was a resident but has left the State of West Virginia or is a corporation not authorized to do business in this state and for which employer services are performed in insured work within the State of West Virginia and liability for payment of unemployment compensation contributions is due and payable to this state under the provisions of the West Virginia unemployment compensation law, such employer shall be deemed to appoint the Secretary of State of West Virginia, or his successor in office, to be the employer's true and lawful attorney upon whom may be served all lawful process in any action or any proceeding for all purposes under this chapter and when served as hereinafter provided such service shall have the same force, effect and validity as if said nonresident employer were personally served with summons and complaint in this state.

Service shall be made by leaving the original and two copies of both the summons and complaint, and the fee required by section two, article one, chapter fifty-nine of this code, with the Secretary of State, or in his office, and said service shall be sufficient upon said nonresident. In the event any such summons and complaint is so served on the Secretary of State he shall immediately cause one of the copies of the summons and complaint to be sent by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, to the employer at the latter's last known or reasonably ascertainable address. The employer's return receipt or, if such registered or certified mail is returned to the Secretary of State refused by the addressee or for any other reason is undelivered, such mail showing thereon the stamp of the post-office department that delivery has been refused, or other reason for nondelivery, shall be appended to the original summons and complaint, and filed by the Secretary of State in the clerk's office of the court from which said process issued.