SYSTEMATIC ALIEN VERIFICATION (SAVE)
ISSUE DATE: 12/2017
The Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) system is an inter-governmental information-sharing program that verifies immigration status, or naturalized/derived citizenship for applicants of federal, state and local public benefits. SAVE provides 2 methods to verify status - a secure electronic (primary), and a paper (secondary) method. SAVE is administered by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
Use SAVE to verify the immigration status, or naturalized/derived citizenship of applicants for MFIP, DWP, SNAP, GA, MSA, GRH, RCA, and MFAP. Also use SAVE to verify a change in immigration status of participants.
For SAVE to verify an applicant’s status, the agency must have:
● | The applicant’s first name, last name and date of birth. | |
AND | ||
● | A numeric identifier from a USCIS document. For example: | |
- | Alien or USCIS number. | |
- | Form I-94, Arrival/Departure Record number. | |
- | Permanent Resident Card. | |
- | Employment Authorization Document. | |
- | Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) ID number. | |
- | Certificate of Naturalization or Citizenship. | |
- | Valid/unexpired foreign passport number. | |
Do NOT use SAVE:
● | For people who are not applying for benefits for themselves, even if they are applying on behalf of others. |
● | When a unit withdraws its application for assistance. |
For APPLICANTS:
1. | Request USCIS documents from non-citizen(s) and/or those reporting naturalized, or derived citizenship. If the applicant cannot locate their paper documents, but is able to provide a numeric identifier, such as the Alien or USCIS number, use the number to query SAVE. |
2. | Using the documents provided to find the following: first name, last name, date of birth, and a USCIS numeric identifier. Expired documents can be used to find these biographic identifiers, with the exception of passports. Passports must be valid/unexpired. |
3. | Submit electronic SAVE query. Do not use the paper based verification method unless required by SAVE. |
4. | Once you receive the SAVE results, enter the immigration status verified by SAVE on the STAT/IMIG panel in MAXIS. |
5. | On STAT/IMIG update the Status Ver field in MAXIS to either S1 (Save Primary/electronic) or S2 (SAVE Secondary/paper method). Do not use the paper method unless required by SAVE. |
6. | If SAVE instructs you to submit paper documents, print and mail the required documents to: |
SAVE will provide the applicant’s status within 10 to 20 federal working days.
For PARTICIPANTS who have a change in immigration status:
1. | Submit a SAVE query using the biographic information already on file. |
2. | Follow Steps 3 through 5 above (and 6, if required). |
See 0010.18 (Mandatory Verifications), 0010.18.01 (Mandatory Verifications - Cash Assistance), 0010.18.02 (Mandatory Verifications - SNAP), 0010.18.11 (Verifying Citizenship and Immigration Status). Also see TEMP Manual TE02.12.25 (SAVE System Access).
PREVIOUS REVISIONS
| Date | Notes |
|---|---|
| 11/2017 | updates section throughout. |
| 09/2016 | updates the name and link of the Minnesota Health Care Programs Eligibility Policy Manual. No policy was changed. |
| 12/2014 | Removed WB. This program was suspended 12/1/14. |
| 01/2014 | "In general provisions under the sub-heading ""Do NOT use SAVE"" in the 1st bullet deletes Emergency MSA because this program was defunded due to 2011 Legislative changes." |
Report this page