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DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES FAMILY INVESTMENT ADMINISTRATION SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (SNAP) MANUAL CITIZENSHIP AND IMMIGRATION STATUS Section 120 Page 19
120.12 Verification of Immigration Status (continued) e. Do not contact USCIS directly to obtain documentation unless requested to do so by the immigrant who is hospitalized, disabled, or has other good cause for not having the documentation and obtaining it would cause undue hardship. C. Documentary Evidence Of Status For SNAP Eligibility a. General Information i. Under the INA, all immigrants over the age of 14 who remain in the U.S. for more than 30 days are required to register with the Immigration and Naturalization Service and obtain an alien registration document. ii. Immigrants over the age of 18 who receive a registration document are required to carry it at all times, with certain exceptions (e.g., Canadian visitors). iii. Immigrants entering the U.S. are normally issued a registration document on entry. iv. If the document is questionable because it does not appear to be genuine or does not relate to the person presenting it, ask the applicant to produce their registration document as additional evidence of immigration status. This request for additional documentation cannot be made for a discriminatory reason. v. LPRs that have worked or can be credited with 40 qualifying quarters are considered to have met the 5 year bar. Verify quarters of work through the Quarters of Coverage History System (QCHS) in the State Verification Exchange System (SVES). 1. If 40 qualifying quarters of coverage are needed for an LPR to qualify, make sure the SSA Consent for Release of Information is on file in the case record when requesting a QC history for Social Security numbers that are not assigned to the applicant (i.e. parent or spouse of the applicant). REVISED JANUARY 2026