searched "public charge" on google, get something like this ...
Highlights of the Guidance
The following programs or benefits will not affect immigration
status:
? Use of Medicaid, state Children's Health Insurance Program
(CHIP), or other health services -- unless Medicaid is used for
long-term institutional care;
? Use of food stamps, WIC, public housing, or other programs
that do not provide cash income;
? Use of cash income benefits by family of an immigrant
unless the benefits provide sole support for the family.
Use of cash income benefits like Supplemental Security Income
(SSI), TANF, or general assistance might affect immigration
status, depending on the immigrant's situation. Practitioners
should review the materials explaining the new policy listed
above in order to determine if receipt of benefits under these
programs will affect a client's eligibility for immigration
benefits.
Summary of the New Policy
The new federal policy clarifies and interprets the law of
public charge as found in the Immigration and Nationality Act.
Below is a summary of the most significant portions of the
guidance and regulations.
Definition of Public Charge: Public charge is defined as
"primarily dependent on the government for subsistence." The
guidance places special emphasis on how the government will
weigh evidence of an immigrant's receipt of public benefits in
determining whether or not the immigrant meets the new
definition of public charge and is therefore barred from
admission to the U.S. Specifically, the guidance states that
only benefits that provide either cash assistance for income
maintenance or long-term residential institutionalization are
relevant to a public charge screening.
Factors in Determining Public Charge: Under the public charge
doctrine, when a person applies for permanent residency in the
U.S., the government must deny the application of anyone who is
"likely to become a public charge." INA 212(a)(4) . In
addition, the government can deny the readmission to the U.S. on
public charge grounds of a permanent resident who has left the
country for six months or more. In making a public charge
determination, the government must look to the future, giving
consideration to the immigrant's age, health, income, family
size, education and skills, and the immigrant's sponsorship
under an affidavit of support. This doctrine has not changed in
many years, although the list of factors that must be considered
in making a public charge determination was not codified until
the passage of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant
Responsibility Act of 1996 (IIRAIRA). INA 212(a)(4)(B).
========================================
here's one link:
http://www.lausd.k12.ca.us/lausd/offices/student_health/public_charge.htm
It doesn't explicitly say if "unemplotment benefit" is or is not "public charge", but I feel it's not.
Also, I called my lawyer, he said "it's not likely public charge, a millioniar are qualified to apply unemployment benefit."
-- which sounds make sense.
Any explaination is welcome!
http://www.lausd.k12.ca.us/lausd/offices/student_health/public_charge.htm
