If you get laid off from your job and you get unemployment benefits for a while, does that make you ineligible for citizenship application later? Because I read somewhere that receiving certain benefits as a green card holder is not a good thing. But I am not very knowledgeable on the subject. Thanks
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Unemployment benefit
- Thread starter ketanco
- Start date
namecheckvictim
Registered Users (C)
Unemployment is a insurance and a benefit that everyone pays for while employed and is not a issue for citizenship, even if you claim other welfare benefits you still don't have a issue as far as citizenship is concerned, however getting the welfare or the means tested benefits will eventually be charged from the person that provided the Affidavit of Support for the immigrant as he/she was the guarantor that the person is not likely to become a public charge until that person becomes a US citizen.
i didnt understand the second part of your sentence. what do you mean by this? thanks.....however getting the welfare or the means tested benefits will eventually be charged from the person that provided the Affidavit of Support for the immigrant as he/she was the guarantor that the person is not likely to become a public charge until that person becomes a US citizen.
If you get laid off from your job and you get unemployment benefits for a while, does that make you ineligible for citizenship application later? Because I read somewhere that receiving certain benefits as a green card holder is not a good thing. But I am not very knowledgeable on the subject. Thanks
Getting unemployment benefits and/or being unemployed does not make you ineligible for naturalization.
namecheckvictim
Registered Users (C)
i didnt understand the second part of your sentence. what do you mean by this? thanks
If you claim welfare or means tested benefits while you are a immigrant the person that provided the affidavit of support if one was required from you will pay for those benefits. Unemployment benefits are not means tested benefits.
okay i understand now... but when i was applying for my green card, no affidavit of support was asked from me... i got it while working for my previous employer and they had gotten that for me... the only affidavit i remember is waaay back 12 years ago when i first came to usa on F1 student visa but that doesnt apply anymore i guess....If you claim welfare or means tested benefits while you are a immigrant the person that provided the affidavit of support if one was required from you will pay for those benefits. Unemployment benefits are not means tested benefits.
namecheckvictim
Registered Users (C)
Yeah, you are OK.
USCIS policy will tell you that you cannot not be denied Naturalization only because you fell on some hard economic times, and that as long as you meet Naturalization eligibility requirements, set by the USCIS, there is NO requirement by the USCIS that an applicant be employed, prior to filing a Naturalization petition, as a matter of fact, an applicant can be unemployed at the time of the Naturalization interview and test.
However, as it relates to Naturalization petitions, even though there are NO written rules on this, immigration attorneys, will advise Naturalization petitioners that, as an “unwritten” rule, if someone is UNEMPLOYED, then he/she must be prepared to show/explain to USCIS how he/she has been supporting himself/herself without the means of any visible income; otherwise, the Adjudication Officer might deny their case in presuming the person is being involved in some kind of shady/illegal activities. SUBMITTING A NOTARIZED AFFIDAVIT(S) FROM AN INDIVIDUAL(S) ABOUT BEING FINANCIALLY SUPPORTED IS SUFFICIENT.
Please note, that according to USCIS policy, as a general rule, unemployment, does NOT adversely impact one’s ability to file and obtain U.S. Citizenship, since "good moral character" is not an issue in being unemployed. Normally unemployment, is not an issue at all, because, MANY people, who have been laid off or lost their jobs, pass the interview and become U.S. citizens. Job loss does not affect Naturalization petitions in any way. According to the USCIS, there are often concerns regarding whether unemployment will create problems in one's Naturalization (Citizenship) case. The required USCIS N-400, Naturalization petition application forms carry NO questions on this matter. The N-400 form and accompanying instructions, make NO note of unemployment or income requirements, as they relate to Naturalization petitions.
Proof of income or support from others is not deemed an eligibility requirement for Naturalization based upon having been a Lawful Permanent Resident (having a "Green Card") for five years.
" That only a few (1%), under any circumstances, protest against the injustice of long-established laws and customs, does not disprove the fact of the oppressions, while the satisfaction of the many (99%), if real, only proves their apathy and deeper degradation". – Elizabeth Cady Stanton
**DISCLAIMER**
I am neither a lawyer nor an immigration consultant. My comments should NEVER be considered as legal or professional advice as they are not meant to be such.
Los Angeles time-line:
Sent N-400 6/11/09
NOA 7/14/09 (PD of 6/12/09)
FP Notice 7/15/09
FP Date 7/30/09
IL: 8/4/09
ID: 9/22/09 (Los Angeles DO) Passed! BUT....
"nasty" and "difficult" AO gave me N-652 stating
"A decision cannot yet be made about your application"
"Please follow the instructions on Form WR-822"
"USCIS will send you a written decision about your application"
AO gave me Form WR-822 requesting 1)Copy of 2007 tax return 2) Copies of all pages of passport 3)Documentary proof of financial support from family/others
AO suggested I hand deliver documents to his office, and said I should hear from them in a few weeks.
WR-822 and ALL requested documents HAND DELIVERED to AO's office on 9/25/09
Tired of waiting sent 15 page passionate "complaint" letter in the middle of November 2009 (sent to everyone from The President down)
Received a letter on 12/10/2009 (dated 12/04/2009) inviting me to come in for an appointment on 12/14/2009 (at 9:30 a.m.) to “complete my N-400 naturalization application and affix my signature to my N-400 naturalization application. Signed by the Director of the Los Angeles DO and District Adjudication Officer (DAO) who interviewed me in September, 2009
Attended appointment on 12/14/2009 - APPROVED
OL: - 12/19/2009
OD: - 01/08/2010
PP: (applied) - 01/08/2010
PP: (received) - 01/20/2010
However, as it relates to Naturalization petitions, even though there are NO written rules on this, immigration attorneys, will advise Naturalization petitioners that, as an “unwritten” rule, if someone is UNEMPLOYED, then he/she must be prepared to show/explain to USCIS how he/she has been supporting himself/herself without the means of any visible income; otherwise, the Adjudication Officer might deny their case in presuming the person is being involved in some kind of shady/illegal activities. SUBMITTING A NOTARIZED AFFIDAVIT(S) FROM AN INDIVIDUAL(S) ABOUT BEING FINANCIALLY SUPPORTED IS SUFFICIENT.
Please note, that according to USCIS policy, as a general rule, unemployment, does NOT adversely impact one’s ability to file and obtain U.S. Citizenship, since "good moral character" is not an issue in being unemployed. Normally unemployment, is not an issue at all, because, MANY people, who have been laid off or lost their jobs, pass the interview and become U.S. citizens. Job loss does not affect Naturalization petitions in any way. According to the USCIS, there are often concerns regarding whether unemployment will create problems in one's Naturalization (Citizenship) case. The required USCIS N-400, Naturalization petition application forms carry NO questions on this matter. The N-400 form and accompanying instructions, make NO note of unemployment or income requirements, as they relate to Naturalization petitions.
Proof of income or support from others is not deemed an eligibility requirement for Naturalization based upon having been a Lawful Permanent Resident (having a "Green Card") for five years.
" That only a few (1%), under any circumstances, protest against the injustice of long-established laws and customs, does not disprove the fact of the oppressions, while the satisfaction of the many (99%), if real, only proves their apathy and deeper degradation". – Elizabeth Cady Stanton
**DISCLAIMER**
I am neither a lawyer nor an immigration consultant. My comments should NEVER be considered as legal or professional advice as they are not meant to be such.
Los Angeles time-line:
Sent N-400 6/11/09
NOA 7/14/09 (PD of 6/12/09)
FP Notice 7/15/09
FP Date 7/30/09
IL: 8/4/09
ID: 9/22/09 (Los Angeles DO) Passed! BUT....
"nasty" and "difficult" AO gave me N-652 stating
"A decision cannot yet be made about your application"
"Please follow the instructions on Form WR-822"
"USCIS will send you a written decision about your application"
AO gave me Form WR-822 requesting 1)Copy of 2007 tax return 2) Copies of all pages of passport 3)Documentary proof of financial support from family/others
AO suggested I hand deliver documents to his office, and said I should hear from them in a few weeks.
WR-822 and ALL requested documents HAND DELIVERED to AO's office on 9/25/09
Tired of waiting sent 15 page passionate "complaint" letter in the middle of November 2009 (sent to everyone from The President down)
Received a letter on 12/10/2009 (dated 12/04/2009) inviting me to come in for an appointment on 12/14/2009 (at 9:30 a.m.) to “complete my N-400 naturalization application and affix my signature to my N-400 naturalization application. Signed by the Director of the Los Angeles DO and District Adjudication Officer (DAO) who interviewed me in September, 2009
Attended appointment on 12/14/2009 - APPROVED
OL: - 12/19/2009
OD: - 01/08/2010
PP: (applied) - 01/08/2010
PP: (received) - 01/20/2010
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