What's the deal with unemployment benefit with 10 year GC?

[thatbritishlass 2]

Hey folks,

I wasn't sure if this was the right place to post this, but here we go.

Long story short: I am at risk of losing my job at the end of January. I received my ten-year green card in August, but my husband and I have since separated. It is not a "legal" separation in that there are no documents, but we are living in separate places right now.

I received joint sponsorship for my conditional GC application in the form of my husband and my father-in-law. Now that I have unconditional residency, what is the deal with unemployment benefit? I had heard conflicting reports - one that not being able to get UB or other welfare only applied until conditions were removed, another that it is a full ten years, another that it is until you become a citizen.

Basically I need to know if, worst-case scenario come the end of January, I would be able to claim or not. My father-in-law has already suggested he would love to withdraw his sponsorship of me given the separation so I'm not gonna get any help on that end, so I need to know what I'm up against if the worst should happen.

Any advice gratefully received as usual

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

Unemployment is not welfare, and it therefore not connected to your immigration status. Because you worked, your job paid into an insurance for this purpose. If you lose your job, you can get unemployment benefits, which are a temporary assistance to help you while you look for another job.

FIL cannot withdraw anything. He's locked in. But that also doesn't mean that he owes you money.

[a+j 77]

There's no withdrawing the sponsorship if you already have the GC. Sponsor and co-sponsor are hooked until you abandon your permanent residentship or become a citizen - meaning the Govt can sue them to collect its money back if you apply for welfare benefits.

As for the specifics about unemployment, what Harpa said.

[Cathi 5,757]

Unemployment is not a means tested benefit. Your FIL cannot withdraw sponsorship, ever.

[thatbritishlass 2]

Thank you all for the advice, which is reassuring.

For the record, I would never ask anything of my FIL, even in better circumstances. I never wanted to in the first place but sometimes life gets in the way...

[mike411 15]

There's no withdrawing the sponsorship if you already have the GC. Sponsor and co-sponsor are hooked until you abandon your permanent residentship or become a citizen - meaning the Govt can sue them to collect its money back if you apply for welfare benefits.

As for the specifics about unemployment, what Harpa said.

I found out there are non-profits in San Francisco that teaches and helps new immigrants get on welfare programs. Tons of these people are on state welfare programs and the sponsors don't even know. I could not find one case of where the sponsors are requested to pay back to the government. It's a BS document because no political hack will dear to enforce it.