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ESA SNAP Policy Manual 51 household with benefits no later than 30 days following the date of application, provided the household is otherwise eligible. ESA cannot request verification or attempt to verify citizenship for household members not seeking SNAP benefits—for example, noncitizen parents submitting an application for SNAP for their children. 5.4.2.1 SAVE Section 1137 of the Social Security Act (42 USC § 1320b-7) requires the verification of immigration status of noncitizens applying for benefits. SAVE is a program operated by USCIS to electronically verify immigration status. ESA will use SAVE to reverify the initial documentation of immigration status the household provides. Any applicant who is not a US citizen is required to carry immigration documentation that contains an Alien Registration Number (A-Number) or an I-94 Admission Number. ESA will use these numbers to access SAVE.  SAVE electronically verifies immigration status using a process that can take up to three steps: 1) initial verification, 2) additional verification and 3) third-step verification. For additional information on the SAVE process, visit SAVE Verification Process | USCIS.  If a noncitizen does not wish for ESA to contact USCIS to verify their immigration status, ESA must give the household the option of withdrawing its application or participating without that member. ESA should not complete a SAVE inquiry on victims of human trafficking. However, ESA must complete a SAVE inquiry on eligible family members of trafficking victims. The SAVE process must be completed within 30 calendar days of initial application. ESA should complete the SAVE process only once for immigrants who have permanent resident status. For all other immigrants, the SAVE process must be repeated at every recertification or until the immigrant receives permanent resident status. ESA must thoroughly document all actions taken during the SAVE process.

Legal Authority SAVE (federal): SNAP: 7 CFR § 272.11, 7 CFR § 273.2(b)(2), 7 CFR § 273.2(f)(1)(ii)(A-C), 7 CFR § 273.2(f)(10) Return