Employment Status & Effect on Getting Citizenship?

[mmnmaniac]

Hello All,

My parents & I are all Green Card holders currently; we got them about 4½ years ago. We are all planning to get citizenship. However, hard times has hit us, and only my mother and I are working. My father was laid off about 1½ yrs ago when the store he was working at went out of business, and hasn't able to find another job since.

At any rate, my question is: "Does the employment status of a person affect his/her chances of applying for citizenship?" My father, for some reason, thinks that he should just get any job just to have something to show 'in case they ask for employment.' We've filed many 1040's in the past - he's just afraid that they may deny him b/c he's not working at the moment. Would it change anything even if he were to get a job at, say, McDonalds?

Any advice is appreciated. Thanks in advance!

 

[Rahul Kumar]

"Does the employment status of a person affect his/her chances of applying for citizenship?"

No it does not. As long as you pay your taxes on what you earn - you are ok.

He can get a temporary job to fullfill his "feel good" desire. Not required though

I wish you and your family the best of luck

 

[hadron]

I don't think that there is a law requiring all members of a family to work )

He might be worried that they look at him as a 'public charge'. This can be an issue at citizenship if he receives medicaid, SSI or any other 'welfare' type benefit from the goverment while he is a permanent resident. Unemployment benefits vary state by state, in some states it is regarded 'insurance' in others it is financed out taxpayer money and therefore considered a 'welfare' type benefit.
The fact that he is not working by itself shouldn't cause a problem.

 

[cgiz]

JoeF,

Do you mean a PR can ask be on public charge without affection citizenship? If so, please provide any link for reference. Thanks.

 

[PeterPany]

Do you mean a PR can ask be on public charge without affection citizenship? If so, please provide any link for reference. Thanks.

I understand that public charges can threaten a greencard and hence future naturalization, only when a applicant seeks readmission after leaving the county. The questions of public charge seems only applicable when there is a rebuttlable presumption or a questions of the applicants intend to reside within the country.

 

[Soul_fh]

Correction JoeF

Employment is not a requirement for naturalization, and has no effect whatsoever, you do have to show you have filled taxes. You may not need to work to support yourself, or you can even be a dependant, such as a parent.

---> And yes, being a public charge has an effect on naturalization!, you have to show that you have being able to support yourself as a PR!. LPR are not eligible for cash welfare (Supplemental Security Income (SSI), cash Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), and state General Assistance). Recieveing cash welfare as LPR is deportable!

 

[Soul_fh]

again.

Just google "public charge and deportation", you'll get all the links you want.

Here's one, have fun reading

uscis.gov/graphics/publicaffairs/ factsheets/public_cfs.pdf

“Public charge” has been part of U.S. immigration law for more than 100 years as a ground of inadmissibility and deportation. An alien who is likely at any time to become a public charge is inadmissible and ineligible to become a legal permanent resident of the United States. Also, an alien can be deported if he or she becomes a public charge within five years of entering the United States from causes that existed before entry. Instances of deportation on public charge grounds have been very rare. Recent immigration and welfare reform laws have generated considerable public confusion and concern about whether a non-citizen who is eligible to receive certain Federal, State, or local public benefits may face adverse immigration consequences as a public charge for having received public benefits.

Page 4
Even if these conditions are met, the alien is not deportable on public charge grounds if the alien can show that he or she received public cash benefits for income maintenance or was institutionalized for long-term care for causes that arose after entry into the United States. Other Public Charge Clarifications There is no public charge test for naturalization. Public charge is not a factor in whether a non-citizen can sponsor a relative to come to the United States. Benefits received by one member of a family are not attributed to other family members for public charge purposes, unless the cash benefits amount to the sole support of the family. -- INS --Being a public charge within 5 years of becoming a PR can be grounds for deportation.