USCIS will check all appropriate statements on the lower half and the back of the form to indicate the applicant's immigration status and employment authorization. Statements on the front of the form are interpreted as follows:
This document appears valid and relates to a Lawful Permanent Resident noncitizen of the United States: Check where the documentation submitted is determined to be a valid Form I-94, with the notation "Processed for I-551, Temporary Evidence of Lawful Admission for Permanent Residence," and I-551, I-151, or I-181a. Immigration law allows this person to live and work in the US on a permanent basis;
This document appears valid and relates to a Conditional Resident noncitizen of the United States: Checked when the documentation submitted is determined to be a valid Form I-94 stamped with the notation "Processed for I-551, Temporary Evidence of Lawful Admission for Permanent Residence," and I-551, I-151, or I-181A. Under the law, this person is allowed to live and work in the US; however, USCIS will reevaluate their status within two years. Conditional resident noncitizen status normally is granted to noncitizens that marry US citizens or nationals, or permanent resident noncitizens.
This document appears valid and relates to a noncitizen authorized employment as indicated below: Checked to indicate whether the authorization covers full-time or part-time employment and when, if applicable, the period of employment will expire. "Indefinite" will be indicated if there is no specific expiration date for employment eligibility;
This document appears valid and relates to a noncitizen who has an application pending: Checked when a noncitizen is pending a new immigration status or change of immigration status. If a change of status is pending, the appropriate block indicating the current status will also be checked. Legalization (amnesty) and Special Agricultural Worker (SAW) applicants under sections 245(A)(c)(5) and 210(b)(6) of Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 (IRCA) do not acquire a legally defined immigration status until they are granted temporary lawful resident status. They may, however, be granted work authorization at the time of application for legalization. If so, the appropriate employment authorization will be checked;
This document appears valid and relates to an noncitizen having been granted asylum/refugee status in United States: Checked when a noncitizen has been granted asylee or refugee status in the US, because of persecution or a well-founded fear of persecution in their country of nationality. An Asylee or refugee is employment authorized incident to status. Documentation presented may include Form I-94, stamped with "Section 207 - Refugee" or "Section 208 - Asylee," or a Form I-571;
This document appears valid and relates to an noncitizen paroled into the U.S. pursuant to Section 212 of the INA Act: Checked for a noncitizen who has been allowed to enter the U.S. under emergency conditions or when their entry has been determined to be in the public interest. Parolees are usually allowed admittance for a specific period of time, and end on the date the parole period expires or when the parolee departs the United States or acquires an immigration status, whichever occurs first. Documentation presented may include Form I-94, stamped with "Section 212(d)(5) - Paroled as a refugee."
This document appears valid and relates to an noncitizen who is a Cuban/Haitian entrant: Checked for Cubans who entered the US between April 15, 1980 and October 10, 1980, and Haitians who entered the country before January 1, 1981. This is a temporary status. Documentation presented may include Form I-94, stamped "Cuban/Haitian Entrant." This status is covered by Section 502(e) of INA;
This document appears valid and relates to an noncitizen who is a conditional entrant: Checked to indicate a refugee who entered the US or adjusted their status to lawful permanent resident noncitizen under the seventh preference category of Public Law 89-236. Documentation presented may include Form I-94, stamped with "Section 203(a)(7)." This status was defined by section 203(a)(7) of INA, but was abolished by the Refugee Act of 1980;
This document appears valid and relates to an noncitizen who is a nonimmigrant: Checked to indicate a noncitizen who is temporarily in the US for a specific purpose and for a limited period of time. This category includes students, visitors, and foreign government officials. This status is typically not employment authorized. Documentation presented may include Form I-94.
This document appears valid and relates to an noncitizen not authorized employment in the US: Checked when a noncitizen's status prohibits employment in the US. Several immigration statuses do not allow gainful employment;
Continue to process as legal noncitizen. USCIS is searching indices for further information: Checked if USCIS will withhold judgement regarding the status or validity of documentation pending further investigation. This statement does not imply that the applicant is an illegal noncitizen or the holder of fraudulent documentation. Benefits should not be denied on the basis of this statement. The noncitizen should be presumed eligible until USCIS sends a final notification regarding immigration status.
This document is not valid because it appears to be: Checked for expired documentation or when an item appears to be counterfeit or altered. USCIS will use the back of the SAVE request to elaborate on this entry. When the entries for counterfeit or altered documents are checked, the CAO will follow the normal procedures for cases of fraudulent documentation. This does not include reporting illegal noncitizens to USCIS.
The Comments block on the second page is used to give the eligibility worker further instruction. It includes the following statements:
This document relates to an noncitizen who has filed an application for US residency pursuant to Section 245(A)(c)(5) or 210(b)(6) of the INA (Amnesty/SAW) which requires that your request be accompanied by an original consent of disclosure statement made by the noncitizen applicant prior to USCIS divulging additional information: The CAO will resubmit the SAVE request and documentation with an original, signed Consent of Disclosure (PA 4) statement.
No determination can be made from the information submitted. Please obtain a copy of the original noncitizen registration documentation and resubmit: The CAO will resubmit the SAVE request with copies of the original noncitizen documentation.
No determination can be made without seeing both sides of the document submitted: The CAO will resubmit the SAVE request with copies of both sides of each document.
Copy of document is not readable: The CAO will resubmit the SAVE request with higher quality copies of the original noncitizen documentation.
Blocks 17 and 18 are designed to assist CAOs in determining when a noncitizen applicant is permanently residing in the U.S. under color of law (PRUCOL). Any additional comments will be included at block 19.
If it becomes necessary to contact USCIS regarding the status of a request, the requesting CAO should be prepared to furnish the noncitizen's name, A-Number and the date the original SAVE request was sent to USCIS. For telephone inquiries call 877-469-2563.
NOTE: Mandated benefit issuing agencies or institutions should allow ten working days for processing.
Reminder: Delays in processing the SAVE request should not result in the delay, denial, reduction, or termination of a benefit. See Section 740.1, General Policy.
Updated September 26, 2025, replacing October 9, 2012