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Chapter: 1460 Technical Requirements Program: RAP 34 a. was paroled into the United States and has not acquired any other status under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA); b. is the subject of exclusion or deportation proceedings under the INA; or c. has an application for asylum pending with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS), and with respect to whom a final, nonappealable, and legally enforceable order of deportation or exclusion has not been entered.

Cuban/Haitian Entrants are considered qualified noncitizens. Refer to specific program criteria to determine if they qualify for benefits.

Verification of this status includes:

1. USCIS Form I-94, stamped paroled as "Cuban/Haitian Entrant, Status Pending", 2. USCIS Form I-55I with code CU6 or CH6, 3. unexpired temporary I-55I stamp in foreign passport, 4. USCIS Form I-94 with code CU6 or CH6, or 5. other conclusive documentation of this status. Those persons with application for asylum pending will have "Form I-589 filed" or official USCIS receipt of USCIS Form I-589 along with an USCIS Form I-94 with this status.

Cuban/Haitian Entrants under this section who are ineligible for Temporary Cash Assistance are eligible to receive benefits from the Refugee Assistance Program on the factor of noncitizen status if their date of status is four months or less from the date of application. 1460.0114 Verification Requirements for Noncitizens (RAP) The eligibility specialist must verify the immigration status of all noncitizens applying for or receiving refugee assistance through the US Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS).

If a noncitizen does not wish for our agency to contact USCIS to verify immigration status, the household must be given the option of withdrawing its application or participating without that member’s needs included. If this occurs, the agency must not continue efforts to obtain that documentation. Instead the individual is technically ineligible for benefits.

When verifying noncitizen status, the agency uses automated verification by Verification Information System - Customer Processing System (VIS-CPS).

If a noncitizen is unable to provide any documentation to verify immigration status, the eligibility specialist is not responsible for contacting USCIS on the noncitizen’s behalf unless the individual requests assistance in obtaining documentation or verification of immigration status.

An expired noncitizen registration card does not necessarily mean that the noncitizen lost their immigration status. If VIS-CPS does not indicate the noncitizen has an acceptable status, the noncitizen should be referred to USCIS to obtain current USCIS documentation. If obtaining USCIS documentation would place an undue hardship on the noncitizen, or the noncitizen is hospitalized or suffers from a medical disability, the eligibility specialist must have the noncitizen declare their noncitizen status and continue to process the application. The USCIS documentation provided will be manually verified with USCIS.

Examples of undue hardship include, but are not limited to, living a distance from the USCIS office, lack of transportation, or a several months waiting period for an appointment with USCIS.

If a noncitizen does not have any documentation of immigration status, but can provide the “noncitizen registration number,” the eligibility specialist will verify the number using the VIS-CPS system. If the number is verified, and VIS-CPS indicates the individual has an immigration status, this is acceptable documentation. However, the individual’s identity must be verified to ensure the noncitizen registration number belongs to the individual.