Effective Dates: 09/14/2026 - Present Previous | Next

TN 89 (09-26)

SI 00501.430 Verification of Alien Status with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to Establish Permanent Residence Under Color of Law (PRUCOL)

Use the information in this section when you need to make a PRUCOL determination under the 1996 immigration reform Supplemental Security Income (SSI) eligibility rules. See information on SSI eligibility for nonqualified aliens who were receiving SSI on 8/22/96 - 1998 “Grandfathering” Legislation in SI 00502.153.

A. Development for verification of alien status

We base verification on information provided by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The alien's status must be verified with DHS in all cases. Any DHS issued document must be verified via an online Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) request. For general information about verifying immigration status with DHS via SAVE, see SI 00502.115. For SAVE verification procedures, see GN 00303.610 through GN 00303.640. For general alien development, see SI 00502.110.

If the recipient provided evidence of their immigration status, review the immigration evidence following SI 00502.100A to verify the immigration status via SAVE. Scan legible copies of both sides of the immigration document into the electronic folder (e.g., Evidence Portal, eView). If the document includes an Alien Registration Number (ARN or A#), enter the ARN in Person Information. Return the immigration document to the claimant. After receiving the SAVE response, update the status code on the record as appropriate and store a copy of the SAVE response in the electronic folder. Once the immigration status has been verified via SAVE, continue developing other eligibility requirements, as appropriate.

1. Alien status valid indefinitely

  1. a. 

    Use instructions in SI 00501.430A.2 in this section for aliens newly legalized by the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 (IRCA). See also SI 00501.440 for policy on immigration.

  2. b. 

    If a claimant presents a document with no expiration date as evidence of their alien status, verify that status with DHS via an online SAVE request prior to adjudication. (For DHS verification procedures, see SI 00501.430B and SI 00501.430C in this section.) Assign an AR code based on the status indicated by the DHS document and through the SAVE request. For field coding, see SM 01005.632.

  3. c. 

    Upon receipt of DHS verification via the online SAVE request, take appropriate action, if necessary.

  4. d. 

    Diary the case and reverify the alien's status using an online SAVE request after one year to ensure that there has been no change. For information on lawful presence, see RS 00204.025. If you adjust the alien's status to lawful permanent resident (LPR) status, consider whether sponsor-to-noncitizen deeming applies. For policy on income deeming, see SI 01320.900.

2. Alien status valid for at least 1 year (but not indefinite)

  1. a. 

    The assumption that DHS does not contemplate enforcing the individual's departure does not apply to the nonimmigrants listed in SI 00501.420C.3.b.

    See Also: SI 00501.420C.3.a, Enforcement of Departure Assumptions—Status Invalid Indefinitely

  2. b. 

    Use the assumption for aliens who present proof that they are Lawful Temporary Residents (LTRs) under the IRCA. See information on IRCA of 1986 in SI 00501.440. Aliens, other than Special Agricultural Workers (SAWs), granted LTR status from DHS should have an I-766 (Employment Authorization Card) valid for 18 months from the date DHS granted the status.

    NOTE: Although we will grant SAW's LTR status, we consider them Lawful Permanent Residents (LPR). PRUCOL guidelines do not apply. See guidelines for determining LPR status in GN 00303.440.

  3. c. 

    If an alien presents a DHS document with an expiration date at least one year from the date of issuance as evidence of alien status, verify their status via SAVE prior to adjudication including, where appropriate, whether DHS contemplates enforcing the alien's departure. Develop following the procedure in SI 00501.430A.1.b in this section.

  4. d. 

    Diary the case for reverification.

  5. e. 

    Verify the alien's status via SAVE shortly before the expiration date. If the IRCA legalized an alien, verify the LTR status before the end of 18 months.

3. Alien status valid for less than 1 year

  1. a. 

    If a claimant presents a document valid for less than one year from the date of issuance as evidence of alien status, verify the alien's status with DHS via SAVE prior to adjudication including, where appropriate, whether DHS contemplates enforcing the alien's departure. For verification procedures, see SI 00501.430B and SI 00501.430C (in this section).

  2. b. 

    If the alien status meets PRUCOL, diary the claim for re-verification. Follow the instructions on evidence requirement establishing U.S. lawful presence in RS 00204.025.

  3. c. 

    Re-verify the alien's status with DHS via SAVE shortly before the status's expiration date.

    EXCEPTION: If an alien presents a letter from DHS that shows that DHS is allowing them to remain in the U.S. for a specified period of time due to the conditions in the alien's home country (extended voluntary departure), develop following the procedure in SI 00501.430A.2 (in this section).

B. When to verify alien status with DHS

All noncitizens applying for or receiving SSI must have their immigration status and documentation verified with DHS through the SAVE program. This requirement applies to all initial claims prior to approval, immigration status changes (e.g., noncitizen to naturalized U.S. citizen), and redeterminations.

C. How to verify alien status with DHS

To verify the noncitizen's immigration status, perform an online SAVE request. For general information about verifying immigration status via SAVE, see SI 00502.115. For SAVE verification procedures, see GN 00303.610 through GN 00303.640.

D. Procedures to determine establishment of PRUCOL

When DHS completes and returns the SAVE response, make a determination (or redetermination) of PRUCOL based on the SAVE response. See GN 00303.630 for information on interpreting the SAVE response.

If the individual indicates they do not have a current immigration document, provide the SAVE fact sheet, "SAVE Records: Fast Facts for Benefit Applicants," which provides information on contacting DHS to update, correct, or replace immigration documents.

Bring any case in which a question remains after receiving the SAVE response to the attention of your field office (FO) management or Program Service Center (PSC) Operations Analysis (OA) staff. PSC OA staff may refer questions, concerns, or problems to their Central Office contacts.

E. References

  • •

    NL 00804.170 Citizen/Alien Status/Non U.S. Resident Status

  • •

    SM 01005.632 AR Field Coding

F. EXHIBIT of Summary Chart -- DHS document , legend, alien status category and code AR field

DHS
Document

Legend

Alien
Status
Category

SI 00501.420
Reference

Code AR
Field

none

none

entered and continuously resided since before January 1, 1972 (June 30, 1948 prior to November 6, 1986)

See SI 00501.420B.2.m.

P

I-94 (Arrival-Departure Record)

“Refugee Conditional Entry”

Section 203(a)(7)

See SI 00501.420B.2.a.

F

 

Parole pursuant to section 212(d)(5)

Parolee

See SI 00501.420B.2.b.

G

 

“Cuban/Haitian Entrant (Status Pending) Reviewable January 15, 1981”

Cuban/Haitian Entrant

See SI 00501.420B.2.b.

X

 

None (may also have a letter)

indefinite stay of deportation

See SI 00501.420B.2.d.

W

 

None (may also have a letter)

indefinite voluntary departure

See SI 00501.420B.2.e.

T

 

None (may also have a I-210 (Voluntary Departure Form))

immediate relative petition approved

See SI 00501.420B.2.f.

Z /change to K after visa granted

 

None (may also have a letter or a copy of the court order)

stay of deportation

See SI 00501.420B.2.h.

W

 

asylee pursuant to section 208 or other pertinent section of the INA

asylum granted

See SI 00501.420B.2.i.

L

 

“Admitted as a refugee pursuant to section 207 of the INA”

refugee

See SI 00501.420B.2.j.

F

 

none

voluntary departure, awaiting visa

See SI 00501.420B.2.k.

T/change to K after visa granted

 

none (may also have letter)

suspension of deportation pursuant to section 244 of the INA

See SI 00501.420B.2.n.

J/change to K after visa granted

 

fingerprint/
security counterfoil, code W or S

illegal alien apprehended 11/6/86-5/4/87

See SI 00501.420B.2.p.

code appropriate for PRUCOL status

 

“Registered for temporary protected status under section 302 IMMACT90”

Temporary Protected Status (TPS), work not authorized on TPS document

See SI 00501.420D.2.

none not eligible

 

“Registered for temporary protected status under section 303 IMMACT90”

TPS (native of El Salvador) work not authorized on TPS document

See SI 00501.420D.2.

none not eligible

I-151 or 551 (Alien Registration Receipt Card)

none

lawful permanent resident pursuant to section 249 of the INA

LPR (do not consider PRUCOL) See GN 00303.440.

K

I-181 (Memorandum of Creation of Record of Lawful Permanent Residence)

none (may have passport stamped “adjustment application” or “employment authorized during status as adjustment applicant”

filed or granted application for adjustment

See SI 00501.420B.2.g.

J/change to K after visa granted

I-210

none

immediate relative petition approved

See SI 00501.420B.2.f.

Z/change to K after visa granted

 

none

voluntary departure, awaiting a visa

See SI 00501.420B.2.k.

T/change to K after visa granted

 

none

deferred action

See SI 00501.420B.2.l.

J

I-220B (Order of Supervision)

none

order of supervision

See SI 00501.420B.2.c.

J

I-688 (Temporary Resident Card)
Obsolete – no longer accepted

I-766

status granted pursuant to section 245a of the INA

lawful temp. resident

See SI 00501.420B.2.p.

R/change to S when LPR status granted

I-688A (Employment Authorization Card) Obsolete – no longer accepted

I-766

employment authorization

applicant for temporary resident status under IRCA

See SI 00501.420B.2.p.

J

I-688B (Employment Authorization Card) Obsolete – no longer accepted

I-766

section 274(a).12(a)(12) or 274(a).12(c)(19)

TPS

See SI 00501.420D.2.

none not eligible

order from immigration judge

none

deportation withheld 243(h)

See SI 00501.420B.2.o.

J

DHS letter

There are national and locally-developed letters we use in lieu of or in conjunction with other DHS forms to identify various alien statuses. It will be necessary to discern the status of the alien if the letter is the only document provided. If there is any question, contact the local DHS office for assistance in identifying the alien's status.

 

local DHS office documents

Some DHS offices have developed their own stamps; therefore, where the chart indicates no legend on a form, it is possible that there will be a locally produced one. if there is any question as to the veracity or status of the document, contact DHS.

 

questionable
documents

Regardless of the above, if the document presented is questionable or fraudulent, follow instructions in the Administrative-Confidential Memorandum.

 
To Link to this section - Use this URL:
http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0500501430
SI 00501.430 - Verification of Alien Status with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to Establish Permanent Residence Under Color of Law (PRUCOL) - 09/14/2026
Batch run: 09/15/2026
Rev:09/14/2026