AAMVA 2017 Region I Conference Timothy Benz, SAVE Program FY17 Program Updates
Agenda SAVE Program Status Upcoming Changes Training and Support
New Document Alert On May 01, 2017, USCIS began issuing redesigned Green Cards and Employment Authorization Documents. The new Green Cards and EADs will: o Display the individual s photos on both sides o Show a unique graphic image and color palette Green Cards will have an image of the Statue of Liberty and a predominately green palette, and will no longer have an optical stripe on the back EAD cards will have an image of a bald eagle and a predominately red palette, will have embedded holographic images, and will no longer display the individual s signature Existing Green Cards and EADs will remain valid until the expiration date shown on the card
SAVE Access Method Map Legend ` VLS 1 st Step SAVE Web VLS 1 st & 2 nd Steps SAVE Web Services 1 st Step VLS All Steps SAVE Web Services All Steps >> As of July, 2017
SAVE Modernization Purpose To strengthen and improve the SAVE Program by modernizing its system infrastructure and streamlining its business processes. Modernization Approach 1. System enhancements and Paperless Processing Initiative 2. Web Services upgrades: one year build-out timeline 3. Enhanced Initial Verifications
SAVE Modernization: Web Services Version 37 Enhancements Increase file size for Scan & Upload from 1.5 MB to 5 MB All G-845 responses will be provided in response fields COA code for immigrants, asylees, and refugees will be provided for 2 nd and 3 rd level responses An ability to make a specific request to know whether or not an individual is considered a Cuban or Haitian entrant An ability to request a document review for an immigration document suspected to be fraudulent
SAVE Modernization: Web Access Method Enhancements Everything that is in the Web Services enhancements Plus: o Automated case response alerts o Electronic G-845 Supplement submission and response o Redesigned verification screens, including improved help text, data validation, and a more logical flow o Improved reporting functionality o Individualized customer dashboard
Paper Processing Elimination SAVE will stop accepting paper-based documents for immigration verification beginning May 1, 2018, and paper responses will stop being returned to agencies This includes the 3 rd Step G-845 with the copies of immigration documents, as well as the original 1 st Step paper G-845 verifications All agencies will need to use the Scan & Upload feature to submit documentation when prompted Moving away from paper processing improves data security, application processing times, agency resources, and saves trees and ink
Paperless: What This Means for You This may impact your current business process, requiring process changes and/or technology upgrades All agencies will need to use the Scan & Upload feature to submit documentation when prompted Scan & Upload is available to all Web Access agencies For those agencies that use Web Services for additional verification, they will need to upgrade to the latest version Alternatively, you could use an additional verification process that incorporates the Web Access system to use the Scan & Upload available there
Web Services Upgrades For Web Services agencies, a new version (v37) will be available by August 1. o It will allow for all instances that currently may prompt a paper verification to be completed electronically within the system o All agencies have one year after its release to upgrade to this new version (VLS agencies have a slightly different timeframe) For Web Access agencies, new functionality will be released by January 2018 o The functionality will allow for fully paperless processing
Customer Survey Purpose To collect feedback for improving SAVE verification services for our customer agencies. Impact Identify gaps in SAVE customer service Adopt improvements to enhance user friendliness, training, and resource materials Survey Will Open Survey Will Close Results Analyzed June 26, 2017 July 31, 2017 August 2017
Independent Evaluation Purpose: Assess the integration of SAVE into user agency Overview business processes Impact: Address SAVE s usability and compatibility with agency business processes Promote user participation in SAVE Improve the benefit applicants experience Survey Distributed Site Visits and Interviews Evaluation Complete Fall 2017 Fall 2017-Spring 2018 Fall 2018
SAVE Does Social Media! FACEBOOK #CaseCheck makes it easy to follow the progress of your SAVE verification case online. Start using the fast and free service: http://bit.ly/savecase FactFB
SAVE Tweets! Recommending CaseCheck TWITTER Recommend CaseCheck for your benefit applicants. It saves them a trip and you time to answer questions. #SAVEprogram https://www.uscis.g ov/save/casecheck
CaseCheck Espanol
SAVE Customer Agency Trainings Purpose: Build upon current trainings and offering other resources for verification Current Tutorials Immigration Overview for SAVE Agencies Laws relevant to the SAVE program Immigration Status Terminology Immigration Categories and Documents SAVE Verification Responses *SAVE s current tutorials can be accessed via the Help tab on Home navigation or via Quick Links
Customer Service and Training Customer Service SAVE Program Assistance 877-469-2563 Technical Assistance 800-741-5023 SAVE Website www.uscis.gov/save DMV POC Email Timothy.Benz@dhs.gov SAVE E-mail SAVE.Help@uscis.dhs.gov Options Available Training* Online Tutorials On-Site Trainings Webinar Trainings User Guides Reference Materials *Ask your agency manager for more information
Additional Information Temporary Protected Status (TPS) Freely Associated States (FAS) I-94 verification USCIS Field Offices Students and Exchange Visitors (SEVP)
What is Temporary Protected Status? Temporary Protected Status (TPS) is a status designated by the Secretary of DHS to nationals of a country when conditions in that country temporarily prevent its nationals from returning safely Countries currently designated for TPS include: El Salvador, Haiti, Honduras, Nepal, Nicaragua, Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan, Syria, and Yemen Information on TPS is provided on the SAVE System in the Resources Information Library, and at uscis.gov/tps
TPS Extensions When a country is re-designated for TPS: o Individuals must re-register for TPS status during a specified re-registration period Sometimes DHS will issue an automatic extension of expiring EADs for TPS beneficiaries of a specific country to allow time for new EADs to be issued When a TPS auto-extension is issued: o A Federal Register Notice will be released to the public and o The extension will be noted on the USCIS TPS website
Verifying TPS in SAVE As evidence of their current status, an individual granted an automatic TPS extension may present: o An expired Employment Authorization Document (EAD) or o A Form I-797, Notice of Action As applicable, on initial verification the SAVE system will return the extended expiration date o Given the nature of TPS auto-extensions, the expiration date may not match the date listed on the EAD
Verifying TPS in SAVE, Cont. Initial verification responses for TPS include the following information: o System Response: Temporary Protected Status Employment Authorized o Response Details: Name, DOB, Country, Provision of Law Code, Date of Entry, and EAD expiration date In some cases, verification requests must be pushed to additional verification. Upon successful verification, a status verifier will provide a comment indicating TPS status and EAD expiration date, if applicable
Freely Associated States (FAS) The FAS is made up of the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands and the Republic of Palau FAS citizens typically present the following immigration documents: o Unexpired foreign passport o Form I-94 (paper or printout) o Employment Authorization Document (EAD or I-766) o The expiration date of the EAD relates to the card, not the period of time the individual is permitted to work and live in the U.S. NOTE: If a FAS citizen presents an unexpired foreign passport issued while they were in the U.S., and the individual has never used it to enter the U.S., ask the individual for their Form I-94 number and verify using that. Information on FAS verification will soon be provided on the SAVE System in the Resources Information Library
Introduction to I-94 Air & Sea Ports o As of May 14, 2013 most travelers are no longer issued a paper I-94 upon entry to the United States. o All travelers requiring an I-94 will be provided a properly annotated admission stamp in their travel document and can obtain the arrival record from the CBP I-94 website. Land Border o Land Border Ports of Entry continue to issue paper I-94s with a fee of $6. o An electronic I-94 may be re-validated at a land border. When this occurs, a new I-94 will not be issued.
I-94 Refugee Processing In Fiscal Year 2016, CBP streamlined the refugee process at the ports of entry. The new process allows for the creation of an electronic I-94. CBP uses biographic data and the Alien Registration Number found on refugee document to create an electronic I-94 admission record. CBP will provide the refugee with a stamped refugee travel letter as immediate evidence of a lawful admission. The Alien Registration number is the number utilized by CBP when processing refugees.
Correcting your I-94 There are over 70 Deferred Inspection Sites (DIS) throughout the US. If an individual is unable to locate an arrival record on the I-94 website or finds incorrect information on a record, they can contact their nearest Deferred Inspections site. CBP recommends calling a Deferred Inspection site prior to traveling there. Some corrections may be done via email or over the phone. The DIS will correct admission errors that originate at the time of entry. Travelers are advised to provide requested documentation along with documents originally presented at time of entry. CBP will NOT: Extend limited admissions due to passport validity Extend K1 admissions Issue a replacement I-94
I-94 Additional Information A printout of an electronic I-94 from the website serves the same purpose as a paper Form I-94. The travel history provided on this website is only a tool to assist the public. USCIS extensions, adjustments, or changes of status do not appear on or update the I-94 website. The OMB expiration date on the electronic I-94 printout is not related to the admission date or lawful status in the U.S. If the date expires, the form is still valid. CBP does not issue new I-94s on closed loop cruises. Since new immigrants are admitted as LPRs, they are not issued I-94s. An individual can also submit questions through https://help.cbp.gov You can also visit CBP.gov for detailed information.
USCIS Field Operations Almost every question that you have about Immigration and USCIS can be found at: www.uscis.gov Ways to Communicate Directly with a Field Office Service Request Management Tool (SRMT) Info Pass appointments. Walk-ins are NOT accepted. You must have an appointment. With evidence of an Emergency, there is a possibility that you will be seen that same day.
Referrals to a Field Office Benefit-granting agencies may refer applicants to a field office to correct or update their records. An applicant should bring evidence to support the correction request i.e., passport, birth certificate, marriage license, divorce decree, etc. An applicant may come to a USCIS field office when: There are data discrepancies Records are not found Documents are expired Documents are illegible Information requires update in USCIS records
Students and Exchange Visitors Before Verifying Students (Fs) or Exchange visitors (Js) ask them: Are you registered with the school or exchange program? Do you have an EAD? If they are not registered and do not have an EAD, tell them that they need to register before they can be verified. If they have an EAD, you should use the EAD for verification instead of the I-20 or DS-2019.
SEVIS Asks Government Agencies to Inform Benefit Applicants To: Speak to their designated school official (DSO) or responsible officer (RO) to make sure their record is active in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) Wait 10 days after arriving in the United States to apply for a driver s license so their Form I-94, Arrival/Departure Record, information can update in all the government systems Apply for a Social Security Number (SSN) at their local SSA office if their state require a SSN to obtain a driver s license o o If ineligible to receive a SSN, applicant should be provided Form SSA-L676, Refusal to Process SSN Application Either is acceptable for obtaining a driver s license in many states 8
SEVIS Asks Government Agencies Themselves To: Verify benefit applicant s record status by using the dates on the Employment Authorization Document (EAD) card if benefit applicant is on Optional Practical Training (OPT) Confirm that dependents are not working, as they are not allowed to work in the U.S. on an F-2 or M-2 visa Refer benefit applicants to the Study in the States website for naming standardization and nonimmigrant status issue questions 9