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201.7 TANF MANUAL 7/15 Page 1e

Local agencies should not use the SAVE system to confirm the status of human trafficking victims since their status is verified by the federal Office of Refugee Resettlement.

2. Aliens, except victims of human trafficking, must submit documentation of their immigration status before eligibility can be determined. Once documentation has been provided, the agency must determine the validity of the documentation by comparing the alien information with current immigration records maintained by USCIS. This is accomplished through the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) Program and is intended to prevent the issuance of benefits to ineligible aliens.* SAVE verification must be received prior to case approval or action to add a person.

Verification is obtained through two processes:

a. Primary verification - a direct access to USCIS files via telephone or personal computer;

b. Secondary verification - a manual procedure completed in addition to primary verification via the Document Verification Request, Form G-845S. (Refer to Appendix V to Section 201.) Certain situations may arise where it may not be possible to access primary verification and secondary verification must be accessed or additional information is needed that can only be obtained through the secondary procedure. These situations are addressed in Section 201.7.E.4.

Once verification has been obtained through SAVE, aliens with permanent resident status will no longer be subject to the SAVE process. Aliens with temporary or conditional status will be subject to SAVE when their temporary status expires.

3. Primary Verification

Primary verification is the automated method of accessing the SAVE system (the USCIS database). The automated access to SAVE must be attempted before attempting the manual, paper-trail method of secondary verification. However, there are some specific instances when the secondary method must be used without attempting to access the USCIS database. These reasons are listed in the Secondary Verification section.

SAVE is accessible through the seven, eight, or nine-digit Alien Registration Number (A-Number) which should be displayed on the alien's USCIS documents. SAVE is accessible via online access by authorized personnel to immigration files by logging on at https://save.uscis.gov/Web/vislogin.aspx?JS=YES

A total of nine digits must always be used when keying the A-Number to access the USCIS database. A zero is to be substituted for the letter "A" in eight-digit A- Numbers, and two zeros must precede a seven-digit number. When the A-Number is nine digits, omit the "A" and enter the nine-digit number.

* Public Law 99-603, Section 121

TANF Transmittal 56