SAVE is a free online service provided by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). It helps government agencies and licensing organizations quickly and securely verify if someone applying for benefits or licenses is a U.S. citizen or has the correct immigration status.

Uses of SAVE

Around 1,200 federal, state, local, and tribal agencies across the U.S. use SAVE. They use it to check the eligibility of people applying for things like:

• Healthcare
• Social Security
• Education grants
• Driver’s licenses
• Professional licenses

How does SAVE work?

SAVE provides a fast way for these agencies to confirm an applicant’s citizenship or immigration status. This helps them ensure that only eligible individuals receive benefits and licenses. The system also has security measures to protect applicants’ private information. It’s designed to be easy to use, and USCIS offers online training and resources for agencies. In 2023, SAVE was used to verify over 21.5 million applications.

What SAVE does NOT do:

• Decide eligibility: SAVE only verifies someone’s immigration or citizenship status. It doesn’t decide whether or not they are actually eligible for a specific benefit or license; that’s the agency’s responsibility.
• Verify U.S. births: SAVE does not verify the citizenship of people born in the United States.
• Provide employment verification: SAVE is not used to verify someone’s eligibility to work. Employers should use E-Verify for that.
• Share information for enforcement: SAVE does not share applicant information with immigration enforcement agencies.

SAVE Verification Process

1. Application and Information Gathering:

• When someone applies for a benefit or license (like healthcare, a driver’s license, or Social Security), the agency asks for information to verify their immigration or citizenship status.
• The agency needs the applicant’s first and last name, date of birth, the benefit they’re applying for, and at least one immigration identifier. This could be a USCIS number, Alien Registration Number, I-94 number, or other similar document number.
• SAVE cannot use a Social Security number, driver’s license number, or passport number to verify status.

2. Initial Verification (Fast Check):

• The agency enters the applicant’s information into the SAVE system.
• SAVE quickly checks this information against immigration databases.
• In most cases (over 80%), SAVE provides a response within seconds, confirming the applicant’s status. This is called “initial verification.”

3. Additional Verification (If Needed):

• If SAVE can’t immediately verify the status, it asks the agency to “Institute Additional Verification.” This doesn’t mean the applicant is ineligible; it just means more research is needed.
• The agency might need to provide more information or upload copies of the applicant’s immigration documents.
• SAVE then does a more detailed, manual search of immigration databases. This usually takes 3-5 federal workdays.

4. SAVE’s Response:

• SAVE sends a response to the agency with the applicant’s citizenship or immigration status. It might also include information like employment authorization or the expiration date of their status.
• In some cases, SAVE might ask the agency to “Resubmit with Docs,” meaning a document copy is required.

5. Agency Decision:

• SAVE only provides information about immigration or citizenship status. The agency receiving the information decides whether the applicant is actually eligible for the specific benefit or license. SAVE does not make that decision.

Most Checks are Super Quick:

• When a government agency uses SAVE to check someone’s immigration or citizenship status, most of the time (over 80 percent of the checks), they get an answer back in just seconds. This is called the “initial verification.”

Sometimes it Takes a Little Longer:

• If SAVE can’t instantly confirm the status, it asks the agency to do something called “Institute Additional Verification.” This doesn’t mean there’s a problem; it just means SAVE needs to look into things a bit more.
• When additional verification is needed, it usually takes 3 to 5 federal workdays to get a response. This is because SAVE might need to manually search through more records.

What to Do if it Takes Longer:

• If the agency doesn’t get an immediate answer and has to do the extra checks, they should usually get the information back within that 3 to 5 workday timeframe.

Transaction Charges

• State, Local, and Tribal Agencies: As of April 1, 2025, these agencies no longer pay any fees to use SAVE. This includes state departments (like those that issue driver’s licenses), local governments, and tribal authorities.
• Federal Agencies: Federal agencies do pay a fee per verification case.

How Much Do Federal Agencies Pay?

• Currently, the fee for federal agencies is $2.25 per verification case (for Fiscal Year 2025, which runs from October 1, 2024, to September 30, 2025).
• This fee is scheduled to increase to $3.10 per case in Fiscal Year 2026.
• Federal agencies also pay a minimum monthly service charge of $25.00 if they use SAVE at least once during the month.

In Simple Terms:

State and local governments can now use SAVE for free. Federal agencies pay a small fee for each time they use the system to check someone’s immigration status, and there’s a minimum monthly charge if they use the system at all. This helps cover the costs of running the SAVE program.

Conclusion

The SAVE system represents a crucial tool for ensuring the integrity of benefit and licensing processes across the United States. By providing a streamlined and secure method for verifying immigration and citizenship status, SAVE helps government agencies at all levels make informed decisions. The recent elimination of fees for state, local, and tribal agencies further enhances its accessibility and encourages widespread adoption, ultimately contributing to a more efficient and equitable distribution of public resources.

Understanding the intricacies of the SAVE verification process, from initial checks to additional verification and the associated timelines, is essential for both agencies utilizing the system and individuals applying for benefits. While the majority of verifications are swift, knowing the steps involved in more complex cases can help manage expectations.

For further guidance on navigating the SAVE system, understanding its implications for benefit eligibility, or for assistance with any immigration-related matters, we at L for Law are here to help. Our team can provide expert insights into these regulations and ensure a smoother process. Contact us today for personalized support and clarification.