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MS 0560

[1]

Volume 1 – General Administration MS 0560 – R. 6/1/26 – OMTL – 696 Documentation of Alien Status

[Verify the status of an alien who is applying for benefits through the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) documentation.

Under no circumstances may a State agency:

A. Require any information about the citizenship or immigration status of anyone who is not applying for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP);

B. Deny SNAP to applying household members because a non-applicant household member has not disclosed their citizenship or immigration status or social security number; or

C. Try to establish or verify immigration status through any means other than the procedures outlined below. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has primary responsibility to determine the status of non-citizens.]

Aliens who left their homelands under emergency situations may not have all the required documentation for eligibility, such as verification or documentation of birth, marriage, divorce, or relationship. In the absence of the regular sources of verification, use Form I-94, I-151, I-551, or other entry documents to verify required information (e.g., age, relationship, or immigration status). Review and accept any documents brought from their homeland that verify the alien's situation. The individual’s statement may be accepted for verification of marriage, divorce, relationship, and death. USCIS documents may be used to verify date of birth. The individual’s statement is not acceptable to verify immigration status. Immigration status must be verified by USCIS documents.

Use the following chart as a guide to the USCIS documentation. This is not an inclusive chart. An individual may have a different USCIS document that identifies the immigration status and date of entry. Accept any USCIS documentation provided by the individual that verifies status and date of entry, unless it is questionable. Have the alien resolve any questionable status through USCIS.

Note: Concerning Form I-94, Arrival/Departure Record: On 4/30/13, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) automated the I-94 process at air and seaports only. Most non-alien visitors entering the country via air and seaports will no longer be issued a paper I-94. Instead, the admission information generally provided in the paper I-94 will be stamped on the traveler’s foreign passport (i.e., COA, date of entry, and expiration date), with the exception of the I-94 admission number. Aliens have to visit the U.S. Customs and Border Protection website to print their I- 94 admission number. Also, if an alien is unable to provide a passport with the admission stamp, a copy of their record of admission can be printed by the alien at this website.

[CBP no longer issues the paper I-94 card to refugees at Ports of Entry (POE); they will need to obtain the I-94 record online. CBP will stamp the refugee’s transportation boarding letter upon admission to the U.S., which is provided to the