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954 Chapter 6:Non-citizens • Section 1: Introduction (07/2026) 22, 1996. The term can be a bit confusing. On the surface, it seems to imply a qualified individual automatically meets the non- citizen requirements for ODHS programs. This is only half right. After the enactment of PRWORA, only those individuals who were listed as ‘qualified’ could be considered for eligibility. Some qualified individuals will meet the requirements outright, but others will need to meet additional requirements in order to meet the non-citizen requirement. Note: For medical programs (with the exception of REFM), Oregon has additional State Plan waivers that allow individuals with non-qualified statuses to meet the non-citizen requirement. There is another term that you may hear, it’s ‘lawful presence.’ Lawful presence encompasses all the immigration statuses in the matrix – both the first and second sections. Lawful presence is a term only relevant to Medical programs (excluding REFM). The top portion of statuses in the matrix are considered either qualified or those who are to be treated as qualified. The bottom portion of the matrix includes the remainder of statuses that are considered under lawful presence, but are not qualified or treated as qualified. You will note that all qualified non-citizens are considered lawfully present, but not everyone who is lawfully present is considered qualified. Remember, if someone is not on the list at all – they are not eligible. Qualified statuses (Treated as Qualified) These statues are considered qualified or are treated as qualified: Lawful permanent residents (LPR) A lawful permanent resident is a non-citizen who has been granted authorization to live and work in the United States on a permanent basis. As proof of that status, a person is granted a permanent resident card, commonly called a “green card.” People enter the U.S. under different visas. This would include, but not limited to, family sponsored visas, diversity visas, or returning resident visas. The following are also considered to an LPR: Iraqi and Afghan Individuals who have entered the U.S. with a Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) under section 101(a)(27) of the Immigration and Nationality Act. During the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, the U.S. government employed many Afghans and Iraqis as interpreters, translators, and other roles to assist in the war effort. Congress created three special immigrant programs to allow such qualified non-citizens to immigrate to the United States with their families. This special immigrant category applies to a: • Special immigrant Afghanistan or Iraq national who worked with the U.S. armed forces as a translator; • Special immigrant Iraq national who was employed by or on behalf of the U.S. government; and • Special immigrant Afghanistan national who was employed by or on behalf of the U.S. government or in the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan. With the U. S. evacuation of Afghanistan, in addition to the SIV holders mentioned above, there are two other statuses that Afghan individuals could enter the U. S.: