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973 Chapter 6:Non-citizens • Section 1: Introduction (07/2026) No, the public charge rule affects the U.S. Department of Homeland Security for immigration purposes only. The USCIS rule change does not affect eligibility for ODHS programs. What should I do when someone asks me how public charge will affect them? When asked by applicants for advice or information about the effect of public charge due to receiving benefits, we can mention which programs are and are not used to determine public charge status. However, the best choice is to refer them to legal services. The following are reputable resources available for Oregonians with questions about public charge: • Oregon Law Center and Legal Aid’s Public Benefits Hotline: 800-520-5292 • Causa, Oregon’s Latino Immigrant Rights Organization: 503-409-2473 • Oregon Immigration Legal Services Directory: https://www.immigrationadvocates.org/nonprofit/legaldirectory/ search?state=OR Verification and documentation All lawfully admitted non-citizens given immigration documents by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) are considered “documented”. Individuals who have come to the United States without an USCIS document or stay without a valid visa are considered “undocumented.” Examples of documentation include: • •Permanent Resident Card (form I-551) • Re-entry Permit (I-327) • Foreign passport stamped to show temporary evidence of LPR or I-551 status • Memorandum of Creation of Lawful Permanent Residence with approval stamp (I-181) • Order issued by the USCIS, an immigration judge, the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) or a federal court granting registry, suspension of deportation, cancellation of removal, or adjustment of status, or • Any verification from USCIS or other authoritative document. Additional guidance, including documentation examples, can be found in the Multiple Program Worker Guides in Chapter 7, Section 1. Verification of Release Card for Noncitizen Children The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) now provides a Verification of Release (VOR) card to some noncitizen unaccompanied children. The VOR card is a new wallet-sized, plastic version of the VOR form, which will continue to be issued. The VOR card and form contains the child’s first name, last name, date of birth, and A#, which may be sufficient data elements to enter in SAVE. However, these documents are not evidence of an immigration status and will not match to U.S. Department of Homeland Security records. If additional documentation is required for SAVE, enter an alternative document such as one issued by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security demonstrating an immigration status or category (e.g., pending asylum application or Special Immigrant Juvenile petition).