Will using benefits hurt my chances of getting a
Green Card or becoming a U.S. Citizen?
RIGHT NOW:
It will NOT hurt
your chances of
getting a green
card if YOU, your
CHILDREN, or
other FAMILY
members get:
Health Care Programs: Medicaid, prenatal
care, “Obamacare”, other low-cost medical care...
Food Programs: SNAP/Food Stamps, WIC,
School meals...
Other non-cash programs: public housing,
childcare, job training…
It does Not hurt your chances if only your children
get cash benefits: TANF, Supplemental Security In-
come (SSI), General Assistance…
You MIGHT have a
problem getting a
green card later
ONLY if:
YOU get CASH benefits: TANF/welfare, Sup-
plemental Security Income (SSI), General Assis-
tance (GA)...
OR your family’s only income is cash benefits
OR you are in a nursing home/Long-Term Care
paid by Medicaid
DO NOT have a green card yet?
Do you qualify for VAWA or a U/T—VISA or
Are you a REFUGEE or ASYLEE?
What is the Public Charge Test? The Public Charge test applies to two types of immigrants:
I) Immigrants applying for visas from outside the U.S. to join family;
2) Immigrants living in the U.S. who are applying for green cards.
To pass the test, immigrants must show that they won’t depend on government benefits to survive.
But, only certain benefits count and other factors (education, skills, health, work…) count too..
You can use ANY benefits (if you are eligible), including cash aid, health
care, food programs and other non-cash programs, without hurting your
chances of getting a green card.
Already HAVE a green card?
But You MIGHT have
a problem:
if you leave the U.S. for more than 6
months. Talk to an immigration attorney be-
fore you leave.
USCIS CANNOT cancel your green card just because YOU or your
CHILDREN, or other FAMILY members use benefits.
You CANNOT be denied citizenship for lawfully receiving benefits,
including cash aid, health care, food programs & others.
Want to sponsor a relative for a green card?
Now: using benefits, including cash aid, health care, & food pro-
grams should not prevent you from sponsoring a relative who is in
the U.S. But it might affect your relative who is abroad. You must
show that you or a co-sponsor have enough money to support the
relative. Consult a lawyer about your own situation.
For more information, call:
(650) 517-8936
www.thelibreproject.org
Based on materials by the Asian Pacic American Legal Center for the California Immigrant Welfare Collaborave. 5-24-18
Public charge rules have not changed for immigrants living in the U.S.
There is no advantage to stopping your benefits right now.
Food and health care help families thrive.
Before you stop any benefits talk to a lawyer.
