Cedar Falls, IA asked in Immigration Law for Iowa

Q: Can receiving unemployment benefit affect my permanent residency status now or in future when applying for citizenship?

I am a Lawful Permanent Resident and have been recently laid off due to lack of work. My question is whether receiving unemployment benefit will be a ground for termination of my Green Card or deportation or preventing me from becoming a U.S. citizen in future?

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2 Lawyer Answers
Gunda Yohanna Brost
Gunda Yohanna Brost
Answered
  • Immigration Law Lawyer
  • Cedar Falls, IA

A: Currently you cannot be denied citizenship for LAWFULLY receiving assistance but it can be an issue in several scenarios such as wanting to sponsor someone or if you want to travel abroad. Furthermore the current administration is trying everything they can to disqualify immigrants who have received any kind of governmental assistance so this area of law is constantly changing. I would therefore suggest you work directly with a reputable immigration attorney (NOT merely a community member but an actual attorney) to analyze your case directly and apply for naturalization as soon as you are able to so you don't have such issues in the future.

1 user found this answer helpful

Hector E. Quiroga
PREMIUM
Hector E. Quiroga
Answered
  • Immigration Law Lawyer
  • Las Vegas, NV

A: First, questions of public benefits impact those who don’t have green cards, so accessing them as an LPR won’t affect a citizenship application. Unemployment is not a public benefit, so it is not a factor in determining public charge.

Ms Grace I Gardiner agrees with this answer

2 users found this answer helpful

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