2146 Documentation of Legal Status

Applicants/recipients who are identified as non-citizens on their application shall be required to document and verify their non-citizens status. The agency shall determine, from documentation obtained, if the person is a non-citizen who may be eligible to receive assistance. Only those non-citizens who are residents and meet one of the categories of qualifying non-citizens status described in 2142 may participate.

For the categories listed in 2142 , the person may also present other documents which indicate the person's immigration status and which the agency may determine are reasonable evidence of immigration status. For persons who can qualify based on a date of entry on or before August 22, 1996, documentation such as employment or school records can be used to demonstrate that the person was in the country if they did not have legal status or documentation during that time period. Also refer to the status and documentation on the chart and the Guidance on Noncitizen Verification in the A-1, Non-Citizen Qualification Chart .

NOTE : Mexican Consulates have started issuing Matricula Consular ID cards (also known as Matricula Consular de Alta Seguridad (MCAS) or Certificate of Consular Registration) to Mexican foreign nationals that reside in the US. For a card to be issued, the person must appear in person at the consular office and present several documents showing proof of nationality and address. These cards are sufficient to identify the individual and as proof of nationality. These cards are NOT sufficient to verify an immigrant legal immigration status in the US or eligibility for any program benefits. Appropriate documents as listed above and in the chart, A-1 , must be provided to establish eligibility for program benefits.