Food stamps and citizenship

[NIGHTHAWK2000 0]

Hey,

Anyone has information about rules for recieving food stamp ,for a GC holder, who recieves food stamps:

Can it be a problem while applying for citizenship?

does it disqualifiy GC holder for citizenship?

Thx

[Saddle Bronc 124]

No, eligibility for citizenship is not income-based

Edited November 5, 2006 by CherryXS

[Aussielad 37]

really? so a premanent resident can claim food stamps??? and it wont have any effect what-so-ever on their citizenship?

[meauxna 15]

really? so a premanent resident can claim food stamps??? and it wont have any effect what-so-ever on their citizenship?

hmm.

Immigrants are barred from recieving means-tested benefits for their first 5 years in the US. I wouldn't give a blanket OK based on what the OP posted so far.

Married-my-love recently posted this list, which comes from the DOS site, I believe.

Means-Tested examples

Medicaid

Supplemental Security Income (SSI),

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)

Welfare, Food stamps

Things not considered means-tested: (alien is still entitled to)

Public education

Child vaccination programs

Social security payments

Emergency medical assistance

Short term, non-cash, in kind emergency disaster relief

National School Lunch Act and similar state and local programs

Assistance or benefits under the Child Nutrition

Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC)

Public assistance for immunizations and for testing and treatment of symptoms of communicable diseases

Payment for foster care and adoption assistance;

Soup kitchens, crisis counseling and intervention

Short-term shelter for the homeless

Titles IV, V, IX and X of the Higher Education Assistance Act of 1965 and

Titles II, VII, and VIII of the Public Health Service Act; benefits under

the Head Start Act; means-tested programs under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965

Benefits under the Job Training Partnership Act.

[Aussielad 37]

awwwwww thanks though! well, now i know what i can/cant get for now hehehe....good old uncle sam

[meauxna 15]

No es El Tio aya?

You owe me a message, young man. Did you two get moved all OK?

[Satellite 1]

No, eligibility for citizenship is not income-based

It is if you can't afford the filing fees.

Immigrants are barred from recieving means-tested benefits for their first 5 years in the US.

Not all immigrants. Refugees for example can receive welfare. I think all non I-864 immigrants should be able to? Correct me if I am wrong here. Just taking a guess based on old experience.

[meauxna 15]

No, eligibility for citizenship is not income-based

It is if you can't afford the filing fees.

Immigrants are barred from recieving means-tested benefits for their first 5 years in the US.

Not all immigrants. Refugees for example can receive welfare. I think all non I-864 immigrants should be able to? Correct me if I am wrong here. Just taking a guess based on old experience.

Most likely correct, Satellite. I try to confine my answers here to the types of cases we see most at VJ.

It becomes impossible to give a straight answer--not too easy as it is.

Here's the old press release that discussed the issue. I don't have the new uscis.gov link

October 20, 1997

INS To Implement New Law Requiring Financial

Liability for Immigrant Sponsors

New Affidavit of Support to Take Effect on December 19, 1997

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- As mandated by the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 (IIRIRA), the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) today released guidelines that, for the first time, require sponsors of certain immigrants to meet minimum income requirements and be financially responsible for the immigrants they sponsor.

The new Affidavit of Support provisions and form are published today in the Federal Register and become effective on December 19, 1997. The new Affidavit of Support form (Form I-864) requires the immigrant's petitioner to be the immigrant's sponsor and requires the sponsor to demonstrate an income level at or above 125 percent of the Federal poverty line. Beginning December 19, 1997, the new Affidavit of Support Form I-864 must be completed by U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents who sponsor family members as immigrants to live in the United States.

"The new Affidavit of Support is a significant change to U.S. immigration law," said Paul Virtue, Acting Executive Associate Commissioner for Programs. "INS is working to ensure that the public is aware of the requirements and ramifications of these new provisions."

Beginning on December 19, 1997, applications for immigrant visas submitted at Department of State (DOS) consular posts abroad and adjustment of status applications filed with the INS in the United States must include the new legally-enforceable Affidavit of Support Form I-864 for:

all immediate relative and family-sponsored immigrants, and for

employment-based immigrants who are coming to work for relatives, or for companies where a relative owns 5 percent or more of the company.

In processing the new Affidavits of Support, DOS and INS will place the greatest weight on a sponsor's earnings from current employment.

Beginning December 19, 1997, agencies that provide means-tested public benefits to immigrants may enforce Affidavits of Support against their sponsors until the immigrants become U.S. citizens, can be credited with 40 quarters of work, leave the United States permanently, or die.

Most immigrants who are sponsored under the new Affidavit of Support will be barred from federal means-tested public benefit programs for 5 years.

To date, federal agencies have announced the following four programs as means-tested public benefits: Food Stamps, Medicaid, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), and Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF.) After the 5 years, immigrants will be able to apply for benefits. However, federal and state public benefit granting agencies will be able to count sponsor income as part of the immigrant's income in determining whether the immigrant is eligible to receive public benefits. This action is called "deeming." "Deeming" will make most immigrants sponsored under the new affidavit of support ineligible for means-tested public benefits.

Federal and state agencies that provide public means-tested benefits will be responsible for enforcing the Affidavits of Support. Upon request, INS will provide to these benefit providing agencies the names and addresses of sponsors. The benefit agencies, in turn, may take legal action against sponsors under the new Affidavit of Support provisions. If sponsors do not provide basic support to new immigrants, they may be sued by the sponsored immigrants and by the agencies for the amount of benefits provided to sponsored immigrants.

[internetkafe 0]

No, eligibility for citizenship is not income-based

It is if you can't afford the filing fees.

Immigrants are barred from recieving means-tested benefits for their first 5 years in the US.

Not all immigrants. Refugees for example can receive welfare. I think all non I-864 immigrants should be able to? Correct me if I am wrong here. Just taking a guess based on old experience.

You forgot mentioning illegal immigrants (read as 'Mexicans'). They somehow find ways of getting all sorts of benefits including but not limited to food stamps, health insurance from states' budgets.

Nobody signed affidavits of support for illegal immigrants...