Driver’s License, SSA, and other Issues for Noncitizens and Naturalized Citizens

SAVE (Systems Alien Verification for Entitlements) is an inter-governmental information services program which verifies the immigration status of a noncitizen or a naturalized citizen, helping to ensure that only entitled applicants receive federal, state, or local benefits, such as a driver’s license, Social Security Number, housing assistance, Medicaid, or other public benefits.  Any participating benefit granting governmental agency like DMV, SSA, Medicaid, etc. may use SAVE to verify the immigration status of the applicant. 

When an applicant applies for a benefit at a governmental agency by presenting the documents/information about his/her immigration status, the agency enters the information into the SAVE verification system which in turn checks it against the Department of Homeland Security records. 

In more than 90% of cases, SAVE responds electronically in 3-5 seconds to the agency with the applicant’s immigration status thereby not requiring additional information.  However, in cases where the initial verification is unsuccessful[i] the agency has the ability to immediately transmit 2^nd level electronic verification request to SAVE.  For this 2^nd level verification request, the applicant receives a SAVE Verification Customer Notice advising him/her that s/he will be contacted by the agency within 3-5 federal working days.  As part of this step, the agency submits additional information on the applicant and the SAVE conducts a thorough check of the applicant’s records and provides an electronic response to the applicant’s immigration status or prompts the agency to resubmit request with document. 

In instances where the agency is prompted to resubmit request with additional documents (3^rd level verification), the SAVE electronic response may take up to 20 Federal working days.  As part of this last step, the agency submits a request to SAVE via a prepopulated Form G-845 which the agency can either submit electronically or via mail.  If SAVE verification is unsuccessful even after the 3^rd level verification and the applicant believes that the SAVE did not provide the correct immigration status information to the benefit-granting agency then the applicant can make a correction to his/her immigration records by contacting USCIS/CBP/ICE/SEVP or by submitting a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request in writing.

In order to ensure a smooth application process, it is advisable that the applicant’s name, immigration status, and date of birth be consistent on all supporting documents and to initiate the process of renewal of immigration status as soon as one is eligible to do so.  Also, it is advisable to wait for at least ten calendar days from the date of entry into the United States to apply for a benefit allowing time for the arrival data to be processed and updated in the SAVE database.  Additionally, applicants whose immigration status has recently changed should expect delays with the verification process.