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COMBINED MANUAL

ISSUE DATE 04/2021

SYSTEMATIC ALIEN VERIFICATION (SAVE)

0010.18.11.03

The Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) system is a federal information-sharing program between federal, state, tribal, and county governments that verifies immigration status and naturalized or derived citizenship for applicants of federal, state, and local public benefits. SAVE is administered by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Use SAVE to verify the immigration status and naturalized or derived citizenship of applicants for cash and food programs. Use SAVE to verify a change or renewal in a participant's immigration status.

Immigration Documents ● People are responsible for providing immigration documents as evidence of immigration status for each non-citizen and naturalized or derived citizen who is an eligible mandatory household member and who is applying for benefits. For MFIP, DWP, MSA, GA, GRH, or RCA, see 0014.03.03 (Determining the Cash Assistance Unit). For SNAP, see 0014.03.06 (Determining the SNAP Unit).

- Until acceptable documentation is provided (immigration documentation that includes the person’s full name, date of birth, and a numeric identifier), a non-citizen is ineligible for benefits.

- Expedited SNAP: If all reasonable efforts to obtain immigration documents and verification of immigration status have been unsuccessful within the expedited SNAP processing timeframe, postpone immigration status verification and approve expedited SNAP. See 0004.06 (Emergencies - 1st Month Processing), 0004.12 (Verification Requirements for Emergency Aid), 0004.15 (Emergencies – Postponed Verification Notice), TEMP Manual TE 02.10.01 (Expedited SNAP W/ Pending Verif's).

● If a person presents immigration documentation and it contains the required information (full name, date of birth, and a numeric identifier), use that information to run SAVE; and the agency should approve the case on the basis of immigration status. Immigration documents vary greatly in appearance. Do not require the person to present a particular immigration document, even if what is provided is unfamiliar to you. If you have questions about an immigration document, submit a policy question with a copy of the immigration document in question.

- Pending the SAVE verification, the agency cannot deny, delay, reduce or terminate the person’s eligibility on the basis of immigration status.

● If a person does not have any immigration documentation, refer the person to USCIS to obtain evidence of their immigration status.

- Provide the person with the Records: Fast Facts for Benefit Applicants document from SAVE for more information on how to obtain, correct, renew, or replace their immigration document(s).

SAVE Has 3 Verification Levels

SAVE is an entirely electronic process. There is no longer a paper component of this process. The prompts within SAVE must be followed at each level. SAVE can typically verify an immigration document on the 1st level and users do not need to go further. If you get the necessary information from the 1st level of SAVE, do not run a 2nd level of SAVE. If a user needs to go to the 2nd or 3rd level of SAVE, benefits must continue for the duration of the time the user is waiting on SAVE to return the necessary information. See above for direction regarding what to do when a person does not produce any immigration documentation.

First Level (or Initial Verification): SAVE users can often immediately obtain the status verification and all of the needed information from the Initial SAVE Verification, or 1st level of SAVE. Note the following: ● Always type the person’s name in SAVE exactly as it appears on their immigration document.

● SAVE asks for 1 of the following numeric identifiers:

- Alien number (this is the same thing as the USCIS number or “A” number. Some immigration documents call the Alien number the USCIS number).

- Passport number.

- Naturalization/Citizenship number.