1105.010.10.15 Refugees, Amerasians, Asylees, Cuban/Haitian Entrants, and Deportees – DSS Manuals

IM-61 June 27, 2007 ; IM-103 October 4, 2004 ; IM-56 April 18, 2003 ; IM-142 November 6, 1998

Qualified refugees, Amerasians, asylees, Cuban/Haitian entrants, and individuals for whom deportation is withheld (deportees) can receive food stamps indefinitely providing they meet the other food stamp eligibility criteria. These immigrants do not have to meet the five year waiting period.

Refugees, Amerasians, asylees, Cuban/Haitian entrants, and deportees whose status is later changed to another status, remain eligible for food stamp benefits under the original status.

Enter the appropriate status code and verification code on the Non-Citizen Information (FMML) screen. Enter AMA (Amerasians), ASY (granted asylum – Section 208 of INA), DEP (deportation withheld – 243(H) or 241(B)(3)), ENT (Cuban/Haitian entrant per 501(E)), or REF (refugee admitted under Sec 207 of INA), as appropriate. Record a comment regarding when the verification was received and any other information not contained on the Non-Citizen (FMML) screen.

Acceptable forms of documentation of these statuses are:

AMERASIAN IMMIGRANT:

USCIS Form I-551 (Alien Registration Receipt Card, commonly referred to as a “green card”) with code AM6, AM7 or AM8; or

Unexpired temporary I-551 stamp in foreign passport or on USCIS Form I-94 with the Code AM1, AM2 or AM3

ASYLEE:

USCIS Form I-94 annotated with stamp showing grant of asylum under 208 of the INA

Grant letter from the Asylum Office of the USCIS

USCIS Form I-688B annotated “274a.12(a)(10)”

USCIS Form I-766 annotated “A5”

IMMIGRANT WITH DEPORTATION OR REMOVAL WITHHELD:

Order of an Immigration Judge showing deportation withheld under 243(h) or 241(b)(3) of the INA and date of the grant

USCIS Form I-688B annotated “274a.12(a)(10)”

USCIS Form I-766 annotated “A10”

CUBANS AND HAITIANS:

USCIS Form I-551 with the code CU6, CU7, or CH6

Unexpired temporary I-551 stamp in foreign passport or an USCIS Form I-94 with the code CU6 or CU7; or

USCIS Form I-94 with the stamp showing paroles as “Cuban/Haitian Entrant” under Section 212(d)(5) of the INA

REFUGEES:

>USCIS Form I-94 annotated with stamp showing entry as refugee under 207 of the INA and date of entry to U.S.

USCIS Form I-688B annotated “274a.12(a)(3)”

I-766 annotated “A3”; or

I-571 NOTE : Refugees usually adjust to lawful permanent resident (see 1105.010.10.35 Lawful Permanent Residents, Parolees, Granted Conditional Entry, and Battered Immigrants ) status after 12 months in the U.S., but for food stamp eligibility purposes they are still considered refugees. Therefore, check the coding on Form I-551 for codes RE-6, RE-7, RE-8 or RE-9.