(ML 2821 Rev. 11-02)
(Manual Renumbered effective 04/01/2004 ML2914)
Before requesting secondary verification, perform primary verification for most non-citizen recipients. Additionally, secondary verification should occur after an automated ASVI check when:
ASVI returns a response of "Institute Secondary Verification."
A material discrepancy between a recipient’s immigration documentation and the record contained in ASVI exists.
A non-citizen claims they obtained Lawful Permanent (or Conditional) Resident Status because they were a battered alien, a parent of a battered child(ren), or a victim of domestic violence.
Sponsorship information from the non-citizen’s Affidavit of Support (Form I864) is required.
Secondary verification is the process of submitting a paper form request to INS for an individual's alien status verification. This will be accomplished on Form G-845S, "Document Verification Request."
Under most circumstances, an automated check of INS records through ASVI is the first step in the verification process. However, the following circumstances require that the benefit provider forego the use of ASVI and perform secondary verification immediately:
A document appears to be counterfeit or altered. Characteristics of suspect documentation include photograph substitution and ink discoloration.
A non-citizen presents unfamiliar INS documentation, or a document that indicates immigration status, but does not contain an A-Number.
A non-citizen presents immigration documentation with an A-Number in the 60,000,000 or 80,000,000 series.
The non-citizen presents a foreign passport and/or Form I-94 and the "Admission for Permanent Residence" endorsement is more than one year old.
The recipient presents a Certificate of Naturalization or a Certificate of Citizenship and verification of U.S. citizen status is required.
If the recipient presents expired immigration documents or is unable to present any immigration documentation evidencing his or her immigration status, the benefit issuing agency or institution should refer the individual to the local INS office to obtain documentation of status. In unusual cases involving individuals who are hospitalized or medically disabled, or who can otherwise show good cause for their inability to present documentation, and for whom securing such documentation would constitute an undue hardship, if the individual can provide other identifying documentation i.e., marriage records, court orders, etc., the county social service office may file Form G-845S and if applicable, copies of any expired INS documents presented, with the local INS office to verify immigration status.
Occasionally the touch-tone access message will suggest using the secondary verification method. Secondary verification should also be used if the information received from the touch-tone access message provides data that is sufficiently different from the documentation provided by the applicant, therefore raising questions as to who and what the real status might be.