SAVE is a relatively new program of the immigration service that verifies immigration status of people who apply for benefits such as social security cards and driver’s licenses. SAVE stands for the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements Program. Federal, state, and local government agencies use the system to make sure that someone applying for a benefit really has authorization to live in the United States, or authorization to work.

How long does SAVE verification take? There are three possible timeframes. Following is the fictional example of Fabiola, who is applying for a social security card for the first time:

  • Fabiola obtains a new work permit (or it could be a work-authorized visa, or permanent resident card).
  • She goes to the Social Security Administration (SSA) office closest to her home and applies for a Social Security Card.
  • The SSA asks Fabiola for documents showing her immigration status. Fabiola presents her new work permit. The card may not be in the system yet because it is so new. The immigration service recommends
  • SSA enters information, including Fabiola’s name, date of birth, and immigration case number (or A number) in their database. There are three possible outcomes at this point:
    1. The SAVE system responds immediately and confirms that Fabiola is work authorized. This happens in seconds (option 1).
    2. If the electronic verification does not happen right away, the SSA can ask for additional information, such as Fabiola’s Record of Arrival (or I-94) number together with her passport number, or if she is here on a student visa, her Form I-20. The SAVE system takes 3 to 5 federal working days (option 2) to respond if additional information is requested and if the benefit agency uses SAVE’s electronic process. On the other hand, if the agency uses the paper-based system, this will take 10 to 20 federal working days.
    3. If the electronic verification still does not go through after submitting additional information, the SSA can ask Fabiola for copies of her documents to send to SAVE for research. This process takes 10 to 20 federal working days (option 3).
  • Once SAVE verifies that Fabiola’s work authorization is real, the SSA determines whether the kind of status she has makes her eligible for this particular benefit. They can give Fabiola her new social security card.
  • If Fabiola’s information is not verified through SAVE even after option 3, it may be possible to correct her records.

Electronic process preferred: Agencies that use the paper-based process with SAVE are slower to issue benefits, so electronic verification is preferred, although this is up to the agency. The system works the same way for driver’s licenses, unemployment benefits, certain professional licenses, food stamps, housing benefits, health benefits, certain grants or loans, and other benefits administered by the government that are required by law to turn away people present in the United States without permission.

Follow the process using Case Check: If an applicant’s license or social security card is delayed by SAVE, she can use Case Check to follow its progress through SAVE verification. This is a relatively new process and helps applicants avoid the frustration of being left to wonder what is taking so long. If you have ever had to go back to the Department of Motor Vehicles multiple times to see if they have verified your immigration status, you know what we are talking about. Click here for a Fact Sheet on how to use the SAVE Case Check website.