USCIS Confirms SAVE Program Processing Times for Immigration Status Verification

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has clarified the processing times for its Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) program. This digital platform is crucial for federal, state, and local agencies to verify the immigration status and citizenship of individuals applying for benefits and licenses.

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The initial verification is carried out in a matter of seconds in most cases. However, when the file requires additional review or supplementary documentation, the estimated response time rises to about 20 business days.

USCIS confirmed that while most initial verifications through SAVE are completed within seconds, cases requiring additional review or documentation can extend to approximately 20 business days. Agencies using the system must upload basic applicant information, including name, date of birth, and the type of benefit sought.

To ensure efficient processing, the SAVE system requires at least one valid immigration identifier, such as an A-Number, I-94 record, SEVIS ID, or naturalization/citizenship certificates. USCIS emphasizes that errors in data entry can cause significant delays. They recommend agencies input data precisely as it appears on the applicant's most recent immigration documents.

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Errors in uploading information can generate unnecessary delays. For this reason, we recommend entering the data exactly as it appears on each person's most recent immigration documents.

USCIS also advises uploading all available identifiers for a single applicant to facilitate automatic validation. For instance, including both a work permit number and an I-94 record can expedite the process. However, the system cannot validate status using only a driver's license, U.S. passports, names without other identifiers, or documents not issued by the Department of Homeland Security.

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USCIS advises incorporating all available identifiers in a single file. For example, if an applicant has a work permit and an I-94 record, agencies can include both numbers to facilitate automatic validation.