Independent Evaluation of the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) Program

Forms and Documents

Document Name	Status
SAVE Program Response.docx Supplementary Document	2017-05-23
Reference Citation.pdf Supplementary Document	2017-05-23
SAVE Program Evaluation Supporting Statement B.docx Supporting Statement B	2017-05-23
SAVE Program Evaluation Updated Supporting Statement.doc Supporting Statement A	2017-07-20
PIA-006 (SAVE).pdf Supplementary Document	2017-05-23
Attachment B-3 Site Visit Recruitment Email.docx Supplementary Document	2017-05-22
Attachment B-2 Site Visit Web Survey Recruitment Letter.docx Supplementary Document	2017-05-22
Attachment B-1 Site Visit Web Survey Recruitment Letter.docx Supplementary Document	2017-05-22
Attachment A-5 Web Survey Telephone Script Follow Up Calls.docx Supplementary Document	2017-05-22
Attachment A-4 Web Survey Reminder Email.docx Supplementary Document	2017-05-22
Attachment A-3 Web Survey Announcement Email.docx Supplementary Document	2017-05-22
Attachment A-2 Web Survey Recruitment Email.docx Supplementary Document	2017-05-22
Attachment A-1 Web Survey Recruitment Letter.docx Supplementary Document	2017-05-22
Published 30-Day FRN.docx Supplementary Document	2017-05-22
Published 60-Day FRN.docx Supplementary Document	2017-04-24

IC Document Collections

IC ID	Document Title	Status
226983	SAVE Web Survey of Active SAVE User AgencieS Other-Web Survey	New
226981	SAVE Interview and Field Observation Protocols Questionnaire Other-Site Visit Questionnaire	New

ICR Details

OMB Control No: 1615-0139	ICR Reference No: 201704-1615-006
Status: Historical Active	Previous ICR Reference No:
Agency/Subagency: DHS/USCIS	Agency Tracking No: G-1503
Title: Independent Evaluation of the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) Program
Type of Information Collection: New collection (Request for a new OMB Control Number)	Common Form ICR:  No
Type of Review Request: Regular
OIRA Conclusion Action: Approved without change	Conclusion Date: 10/02/2017
	Date Received in OIRA: 07/06/2017
Terms of Clearance:

	Inventory as of this Action	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	10/31/2020	36 Months From Approved
Responses	790	0	0
Time Burden (Hours)	722	0	0
Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0	0

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Abstract: The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) requests clearance from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for new information collection on the evaluation of the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) program. The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services’ (USCIS) Research and Evaluation Division (RED) commissioned this USCIS SAVE evaluation in response to the FY 2015 OMB Passback guidance to the DHS: “Guidance requests that the FY 2015 program funding level for SAVE be set at a level that supports an independent evaluation of the SAVE program.” The SAVE program is a voluntary program for federal, state, and local government agencies to assist participating agencies with verifying the immigration status of the benefit’s applicants. The program is fee-funded and was established after Congress passed the Immigration Reform and Control Act (IRCA) of 1986 under the legacy Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) , which required the creation of a verification system that confirms the immigration status of individuals applying for specific federally funded benefits. The mission of the SAVE program is to provide timely customer centric immigration status information to authorized agencies to help them maintain the integrity of their programs. The SAVE program has expanded into a nation-wide program that conducts immigration status verifications. More recently, the REAL ID Act of 2005 and the Affordable Care Act of 2010 created new laws that have increased the number of SAVE user agencies. The laws require departments of motor vehicles and health insurance exchanges to verify one’s immigration status before issuing licenses/IDs and health insurance. There are also mandates in some states (such as Georgia) that require the universal use of SAVE to receive any public benefit. SAVE currently has 1,136 user agencies. Of this total, 550 are considered “active agencies” defined as agencies that process at least one application per year. The highest-volume user agencies (as calculated by initial verifications) are the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (35.9%), the Social Security Administration (17.9%), the California Department of Health Services (7.4%), the Texas Department of Public Safety (4.3%), and the California Department of Motor Vehicles (4.3%).

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Authorizing Statute(s): PL: Pub.L. 99 - 603 121 Name of Law: Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986
  

Citations for New Statutory Requirements: None

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Associated Rulemaking Information
RIN:	Stage of Rulemaking:	Federal Register Citation:	Date:
	Not associated with rulemaking

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Federal Register Notices & Comments
60-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	82 FR 11476	02/23/2017
30-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	82 FR 22344	05/15/2017
Did the Agency receive public comments on this ICR? Yes

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Number of Information Collection (IC) in this ICR: 2

IC Title	Form No.	Form Name
SAVE Web Survey of Active SAVE User AgencieS
SAVE Interview and Field Observation Protocols Questionnaire

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ICR Summary of Burden

	Total Approved	Previously Approved	Change Due to New Statute	Change Due to Agency Discretion	Change Due to Adjustment in Estimate	Change Due to Potential Violation of the PRA
Annual Number of Responses	790	0	0	790	0	0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	722	0	0	722	0	0
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0	0	0	0	0

Burden increases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: Yes

Burden Increase Due to: Miscellaneous Actions

Burden decreases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: No

Burden Reduction Due to:

Short Statement: This is a new collection that has an estimated 722 annual hours time burden.

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Annual Cost to Federal Government: $490,428

Does this IC contain surveys, censuses, or employ statistical methods? Yes Part B of Supporting Statement

Does this ICR request any personally identifiable information (see OMB Circular No. A-130 for an explanation of this term)? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination.     Yes

Does this ICR include a form that requires a Privacy Act Statement (see 5 U.S.C. §552a(e)(3))? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination.     Yes

Is this ICR related to the Affordable Care Act [Pub. L. 111-148 & 111-152]? No

Is this ICR related to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, [Pub. L. 111-203]? No

Is this ICR related to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA)? No

Is this ICR related to the Pandemic Response? Uncollected

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Common Form ICR:  No

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On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that the collection of information encompassed by this request complies with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR 1320.8(b)(3).

The following is a summary of the topics, regarding the proposed collection of information, that the certification covers:

(a) It is necessary for the proper performance of agency functions;

(b) It avoids unnecessary duplication;

(c) It reduces burden on small entities;

(d) It uses plain, coherent, and unambiguous language that is understandable to respondents;

(e) Its implementation will be consistent and compatible with current reporting and recordkeeping practices;

(f) It indicates the retention periods for recordkeeping requirements;

(g) It informs respondents of the information called for under 5 CFR 1320.8 (b)(3) about:

(i) Why the information is being collected;

(ii) Use of information;

(iii) Burden estimate;

(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a benefit, or mandatory);

(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and

(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control number;

(h) It was developed by an office that has planned and allocated resources for the efficient and effective management and use of the information to be collected.

(i) It uses effective and efficient statistical survey methodology (if applicable); and

(j) It makes appropriate use of information technology.

If you are unable to certify compliance with any of these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.

Certification Date: 07/06/2017

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