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Simple English definitions for legal terms

public charge

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A quick definition of public charge:

Public charge refers to when an immigrant receives public benefits that could make them ineligible to become a permanent resident. The government has the power to define what counts as public charge, and in the past, it included receiving certain benefits for more than 12 months in a 36-month period. However, in 2021, the government stopped enforcing this rule and instead uses a 1999 Interim Field Guidance that only considers an immigrant a public charge if they are primarily dependent on the government for subsistence, demonstrated by receiving public cash assistance for income maintenance or being institutionalized for long-term care at government expense. This means that receiving Medicaid, public housing, or SNAP benefits will not count against an immigrant in the public charge determination.

A more thorough explanation:

Public charge refers to an immigrant who receives public benefits that could make them ineligible to become a permanent resident. According to the law, any immigrant who is likely to become a public charge at any time is not allowed to enter or stay in the United States.

The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has the power to define public charge through regulations. In 2019, a regulation was passed that stated any immigrant who received one or more designated public benefits for more than 12 months within a 36-month period would generally be ineligible to become a permanent resident. However, in 2021, USCIS stopped enforcing this rule and instead applied the 1999 Interim Field Guidance.

The 1999 Interim Field Guidance defines public charge as an immigrant who has become primarily dependent on the government for subsistence, as demonstrated by either the receipt of public cash assistance for income maintenance or institutionalization for long-term care at government expense. This means that USCIS will not consider an applicant's receipt of Medicaid (except for long-term institutionalization at the government's expense), public housing, or Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits as part of the public charge inadmissibility determination.

  • An immigrant who receives food stamps (SNAP) for more than 12 months within a 36-month period may be considered a public charge and ineligible to become a permanent resident under the 2019 regulation. However, under the 1999 Interim Field Guidance, this benefit would not be considered in the public charge determination.
  • An immigrant who is institutionalized for long-term care at government expense may be considered a public charge under both the 2019 regulation and the 1999 Interim Field Guidance.

These examples illustrate how the definition of public charge can vary depending on the regulations in place. It is important for immigrants to understand the current rules and regulations regarding public charge to ensure they are eligible to become permanent residents.

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i cant i would go crazy
JumpySubsequentDolphin
20:50
i need to know who decided to do that.
JumpySubsequentDolphin
20:50
omg im on a plane weeeee
the devil
youre on a plane??? LSD made the mile high club??
20:50
yo splitterus are you in school already
20:50
it says ur c/o 2027
JumpySubsequentDolphin
20:51
@SplitterusClitterus: HAHAH yes
ur user is hilarioussss and no i just graduated this may and am now applying ---also im out of messages so ill take a lil
20:52
roger dat. see u in heck
im back, r u applying this cycle too
JumpySubsequentDolphin
21:32
this child fell asleep on me
JumpySubsequentDolphin
21:32
im so uncomfortable
just push him off the entire seat
JumpySubsequentDolphin
21:34
LMAOOOO
JumpySubsequentDolphin
21:35
no he’s literally like 8 and he fully just put his head on my bicep and slept
JumpySubsequentDolphin
21:35
he has since moved
22:12
@SplitterusClitterus: me yesterday
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22:23
i just went into a discord vc and yelled "YALL I JUST GOT INTO J.M. SCHOOL OF LAW"
22:24
people were getting excited :sob:
22:25
then someone was like "what does jm stand for" and i was like .. well
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JumpySubsequentDolphin
22:39
@splitty Oregon!
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JumpySubsequentDolphin
22:45
haha my brother and sister in law live there
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