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FOOD AND NUTRITION SERVICES CERTIFICATION ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FNS 227 NON-CITIZEN REQUIREMENTS
20 Section 227 Change #1-2026 February 1, 2026 227.07 STEP 4: VERIFICATION OF NON-CITIZEN STATUS This section describes the verification requirements for non-citizen eligibility claims. Verification is required to confirm that the individual holds the immigration status they have claimed and, where applicable, the date that status was obtained. Important: County agencies must verify non-citizen status through SAVE at initial application and every recertification to ensure ongoing eligibility under the revised categories. SAVE is now available at no cost. Do NOT delay, deny, reduce, or terminate benefits pending verification results if the individual has provided acceptable documentation. Each unit member who is a non-citizen and who is applying for FNS benefits for him or herself must provide original documentation of his non-citizen status. The law requires non-citizens applying for FNS to provide documentation of eligible immigration status as a condition of eligibility. This documentation must be verified electronically using the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) database. State agencies cannot use any other method of verification for non-citizen eligibility. A. Verification Overview Under H.R. 1, only three categories of non-citizens are eligible for FNS benefits: • Lawful Permanent Residents (LPRs) — subject to 5-year waiting period unless exempt (see FNS 227.06) • Cuban/Haitian Entrants (CHE) — eligible immediately • COFA Migrants (citizens of FSM, RMI, or Palau) — eligible immediately The verification process confirms the individual's claimed status using documentation and the SAVE database. B. Acceptable Verification Documents Refer to FNS 227.05 for a list of acceptable documents by immigration category. Key document types include: Lawful Permanent Residents • I-551 (Permanent Resident Card / Green Card) • Unexpired I-551 stamp in foreign passport • I-797 Notice showing LPR status