Although it’s only temporary for now, financial aid professionals are getting an elevated permission status with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
The elevated status will enable schools to determine whether some non-citizens are eligible to receive federal financial aid.
An August 8 Electronic Announcement outlines an interim solution to the DHS Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlement (SAVE). The DHS has updated SAVE permission levels for third-step users and supervisors allowing schools temporary access to pending DHS secondary match cases.
The Department of Education (ED) previously acknowledged that the secondary match process with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) was not available, and this would cause delays for the applicants who do not pass the initial identity verification process.
Some key points that are part of the interim solution:
- If the DHS Primary Match Status (Field 557) is “N” (Not confirmed eligible noncitizen) and the DHS Secondary Match Status (Field 558) is “P” (Pending), schools should search for the case in the SAVE system and proceed with the third-step verification process.
- FSA will not transmit an updated ISIR, and the DHS Secondary Match Status will remain pending.
- Schools may proceed with awarding and disbursing federal aid if they determine that the applicant qualifies based on the other eligibility requirements for federal aid.
- If an applicant’s status is marked as “closed” even if it has an “N” for the DHS Primary status, schools should access the FAFSA Partner Portal (FPP) and use the “Resend to Matches” function to send a correction.
- With sufficient documentation, schools can award and disburse Title IV aid if no response is received from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) after at least 15 business days from the third-step verification request date.
- The student’s file must be documented that the 15-day period has passed, and a decision was based on immigration documentation received.
- Students must continue to meet all other student eligibility criteria.
Once a permanent change is made to the secondary verification process, the Department will provide additional updates.
Additional guidance on the DHS-SAVE system and the DHS Match Statuses is available on the DHS-SAVE Electronic Third Step Verification page of the Knowledge Center. Schools needing assistance in interpreting a SAVE response, should email the student’s DHS Verification number to applicationsystemsdivision@ed.gov
