EU members applying for Food Stamp benefits are required to provide their USCIS documentation as a condition of eligibility. FSD is then required to verify the validity of those documents through the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE).
Acceptable forms of documentation of qualified and eligible immigrant status are:
LAWFUL PERMANENT RESIDENT:
REFUGEES:
NOTE: Refugees usually adjust to Lawful Permanent Resident status after 12 months in the U.S., but for Food Stamp eligibility purposes they are still considered refugees. Therefore, check the coding on Form I-551 for codes RE-6, RE-7, RE-8 or RE-9.
ASYLEE:
IMMIGRANT WITH DEPORTATION OR REMOVAL WITHHELD:
IMMIGRANT GRANTED PAROLE FOR AT LEAST ONE YEAR:
IMMIGRANT GRANTED CONDITIONAL ENTRY:
AMERASIAN IMMIGRANT:
CUBANS AND HAITIANS:
UNITED STATES NON-CITIZEN NATIONAL:
Primary evidence includes:
NOTE: Puerto Rican birth certificates issued prior to October 1, 2010 cannot be used to verify an EU member’s identity. New birth certificates will be issued to those who apply for them after October 1, 2010.
Secondary evidence includes:
Contact Food Stamp Program and Policy for additional sources of primary or secondary verification of U.S. nationality. In addition to the primary and secondary evidence, the applicant must state that he/she does not owe allegiance to a foreign state or country.
CROSS-BORDER NATIVE AMERICAN:
Acceptable verifications that a Native American was born in Canada are:
A cross-border Native American may have USCIS documentation establishing LPR status.
NOTE: This does not include a spouse or child of such Native American nor an immigrant whose membership in a Native American tribe or family is created by adoption unless such person is of at least fifty percent (50%) or more Native American blood.
HMONG OR HIGHLAND LAOTIAN:
Contact Food Stamp Program and Policy for instructions on how to verify this immigration status.
MILITARY CONNECTION:
Acceptable verifications of an immigrant's military connection follow.
Use an original or notarized copy of the individual's discharge certificate (DD Form 214) that shows active duty of at least two years in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corp, or Coast Guard. Contact the Veteran's Administration (VA) regional office for determination of veteran status if a discharge certificate shows any other branch of service (Reserves or National Guard) or any other type of duty (e.g., “Active Duty for Training” or “Inactive Duty for Training”).
Character of discharge is noted on the DD-214. A DD-214 that shows character of discharge as anything other than “Honorable” is not eligible for this status. A character of discharge “Under Honorable Conditions” is NOT an honorable discharge for these purposes.
If the applicant cannot provide the DD-214, have the EU sign an authorization to release the information and send it to the Military Personnel Record Center, 9700 Page, St. Louis, MO 63132. The Military Personnel Record Center will send a copy of the DD-214 if a signed authorization is provided.
For an individual in the U.S. Army, Air Force, Marine Corp or Coast Guard, view a current military ID card (DD Form 2 (Active)) that lists an expiration date of more than one year from the date of issue. This does not include full-time National Guard duty. If the card will expire within one year, use a copy of the individual's military order to document active duty status.
For an individual in the Reserves, Army National Guard, or Air National Guard view a current DD Form 2 (Reserve) (red) and military active duty order showing the individual is on active duty, but NOT active duty for training. No other method for verifying this status is available.
If the individual is unable to furnish either of the above, active duty may be verified through the nearest RAPD (Real Time Automated Personnel Identification System) located at many military installations or by notifying the following office in writing (you may transmit this notice by facsimile):
DEERS Support Office
ATTN: Research and Analysis
400 Gigling Road
Seaside, California 93944-6771
FAX Number: (408)655-8317
View the individual's current military ID card. The card will show:
If the military ID card is unavailable or further documentation is needed, refer the individual to the VA regional office.
BATTERED IMMIGRANTS:
VICTIMS OF SEVERE FORMS OF TRAFFICKING:
Certification letters for adults and eligibility letters for children show an entry date (date of certification). The original certification letters showed an eight month expiration date. Certification and recertification letters for adults and eligibility letters for children issued after November 6, 2001 do not contain an expiration date. The recertification letters contain a lowercase “r” beside the Health and Human Services (HHS) tracking number.
If an individual presents a certification letter when applying for benefits or if the worker attempts to do an eligibility redetermination, call the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) trafficking verification line at (202) 401-5510 to confirm the validity of the certification letter.
UNABLE TO PROVIDE DOCUMENT:
Complete USCIS Form G-845 and Supplement to obtain verification of immigration status if the immigrant does not have the appropriate document.