Will Using Benefits Hurt My Chances of Getting a Green Card or Becoming a U.S. Citizen?
by: Northwest Justice Project
GOOD NEWS! INS SAYS:
If you do not have a green card yet:
NO PROBLEM. You won't hurt your chances of getting a green card if you use:
HEALTH CARE, such as State Medical Assistance, Limited Casualty Program, Basic Health Plan, Children's Health Program, WIC, prenatal care or other free or low-cost medical care
FOOD PROGRAMS, such as Food Stamps, Food Assistance Program (FAP), WIC, school meals, and other food assistance
NON-CASH PROGRAMS, like public housing, disaster relief, child care services, job training and transportation vouchers
MIGHT BE A PROBLEM. You have a problem getting your green card if YOU use:
CASH WELFARE, such as Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), State Family Assistance (SFA), Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or General Assistance (GA-U, GA-S)
CASH WELFARE received by your children or other family members is o.k. UNLESS it is your family's only source of support.
LONG-TERM CARE in a nursing home or other facility paid for by State Medical Assistance or other governmental funds
If you are a refugee or asylee:
NO PROBLEM. You can use ANY benefits, including cash welfare, health care, food programs, and non-cash programs, without hurting your chances of getting a green card.
If you already have a green card:
NO PROBLEM. You cannot lose your green card if you or your family use:
HEALTH CARE, FOOD PROGRAMS, and other NON-CASH PROGRAMS
CASH WELFARE
LONG-TERM CARE
MIGHT BE A PROBLEM. You may have a problem if:
You leave the U.S. for more than 6 months continuously AND you have used cash welfare or long-term care
In extremely rare cases, you use cash welfare or long-term care during your first 5 years in the U.S., for reasons, such as illness of disability, that existed BEFORE you entered the U.S.
If you are applying for citizenship:
NO PROBLEM. You cannot be denied U.S. citizenship for lawfully receiving benefits, including cash welfare, health care, food programs, and non-cash programs
If you want to sponsor a relative:
NO PROBLEM. Using benefits, including cash welfare, health care, food programs, and non-cash programs, should not prevent you from sponsoring your relative. You will need to show that you or your co-sponsor earn enough income to support your relative.
For more information, call:
Gillian Dutton, Northwest Justice Project, at (206) 464-1519 or toll-free 1-888-201-1012
Coordinated Legal Education Advice & Referral (CLEAR) at 1-888-201-1014
Elisabeth Tutsch, Columbia Legal Services, at (509) 575-5593 or 1-800-631-1323
Columbia Legal Services, (360) 943-6260 or 1-800-260-6260
This publication provides general information concerning your rights and responsibilities. It is not intended as a substitute for specific legal advice. This information is current as of the date of its printing, March 2000.
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