Qualified and Eligible Non-citizens

The non-citizens listed below meet both criteria to be Qualified and eligible non-citizens.

A refugee admitted under Section 207 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). A refugee is admitted with a USCIS Form I-94. When a refugee files for permanent residence, the refugee will get a USCIS Form I-551.

The Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2002 requires victims of a severe form of trafficking to be treated as refuges for SNAP purposes. Victims of human trafficking are eligible to the same extent as an individual admitted as a refugee under Section 207 of the INA. Minor children, spouses and in some cases the parents and siblings of victims of severe trafficking are eligible to the same extent as a refugee. Non-Citizens with a designated COA of T2, T3, T4, or T5 as well as some U visa holders fit into this category. To be eligible, these non-citizens must have an ORR certification letter that identifies the certification date.

An immigrant approved for asylum under Section 208 of the INA. An asylee will have a USCIS Form I-94. An asylee may have a letter from USCIS explaining the status. When an asylee files for permanent residence, the asylee will get a USCIS Form I-551.

A Cuban or Haitian entrant admitted under Section 501(e) of the Refugee Education Assistance Act of 1980 or a Cuban/Haitian entrant that is paroled under section 212 (d) (5) of the INA.

An immigrant whose deportation has been withheld under Section 243(h) or Section 241(b)(3) of the INA. The non-citizen will have attended a deportation hearing and the Immigration Judge will have signed an order preventing the non-citizen from being deported. If deportation is being withheld under another section of the INA, the non-citizen is not a Qualified Non-Citizen.

An Iraqi or Afghai non-citizen granted special immigrant status under Section 101(a)(27) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). These immigrants are admitted as lawful permanent residents. They must provide proof that they were admitted under section 101(a)(27) of the INA. Proof is an Iraqi or Afghan passport with an immigrant visa stamp noting the individual has been admitted under IV (Immigrant Visa) Category and USCIS stamp or notation on passport, or I-94 showing date of entry. A non-citizen, who is an Iraqi or Afghani Special Immigrant Visa Holder, while not identified as a refugee, shall be eligible for benefits and services under any Federal or State program or activity funded or administered by any Federal agency to the same extent as a non-citizen who is admitted to the United States as a refugee under Section 207 of the INA.

A citizen or national of Afghanistan who was admitted to the United States with SI/SQ Parole (per section 602(B)(1) AAPA and section 1059(a) NDAA 2006), Special Immigrant (SI) Conditional Permanent Residence (CPR), or Humanitarian Parole status (per the Afghanistan Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2022); and their spouses and children.

A citizen or national of Afghanistan granted parolee status under 212(d)(5)(A), DHS stamp noting OAR or OAW, or an Employment Authorization card showing a C11 code with a date of entry between July 31, 2021 and Sep 30, 2023.

A national from Afghanistan admitted after September 30, 2023, who is the spouse or child of a parolee described above, or who is the legal parent or guardian of a child determined to be an unaccompanied child.

This status expires on September 30, 2023 or the expiration of the original parolee status, whichever is later.

After the expiration of the status, the immigrant will continue as a parolee under this rule as long as they have applied for or been granted asylum, re-parole or an extension to the parole status.

Children under age 14 as of September 26, 2023, who have not applied for asylum or an extension, will be granted an additional 2-year extension even if other household members have expired statuses.

A national from Ukraine that is paroled under 212(d)(5) or 8 USC 1182 (d) (5) of the INA, has a DHS admission stamp of DT, passport with a stamp of United for Ukraine (U4U), or an Employment Authorization Code of C11 with a date of entry between February 24, 2022 - September 30, 2024. Individuals qualify under this category until the expiration of their original status. Once their original status expires, they will be considered under their new status.

A National from the Ukraine admitted after September 30, 2023 who is the spouse or child of a parolee described above, or who is the legal parent or guardian of a child determined to be an unaccompanied child. These non-citizens will be eligible to the same extent with an eligibility start date of April 24, 2024 or the date of their parole whichever is later.

Citizens of Freely Associated States (COFAs) are eligible for TANF benefits as of March 9, 2024, even if they are not Lawful Permanent Residents (LPRs).

Amerasians. Amerasian’s will have a USCIS form I-551 or form I-94 with codes AM1, AM2, or AM3.