Food Stamps

[feli114 65]

In my state, single men do qualify for food stamps. But the point is, as others have pointed out, what will it look like to the interviewer?

[ecirnala 9]

In my state, single men do qualify for food stamps. But the point is, as others have pointed out, what will it look like to the interviewer?

That's what I am concerned about. I can stand to struggle for a little while, but if it wouldn't hurt me, I'd be willing to get some help for a short time. I just don't want to do it at my fiances expense. Maybe I should just get a night job at a restaurant somewhere (although it'll probably kinda suck). That would probably be as easy as the stamps, may even give me more $, would even provide me with a reference for any future jobs, & i may even be able to make some good contacts in the process. I think that I know what I'm going to try to do now. Thanks guys.

[az110965 252]

That's what I am concerned about. I can stand to struggle for a little while, but if it wouldn't hurt me, I'd be willing to get some help for a short time. I just don't want to do it at my fiances expense. Maybe I should just get a night job at a restaurant somewhere (although it'll probably kinda suck). That would probably be as easy as the stamps, may even give me more $, would even provide me with a reference for any future jobs, & i may even be able to make some good contacts in the process. I think that I know what I'm going to try to do now. Thanks guys.

Good thinking - PLUS - with an additional job you'll most likely be fine regarding being above the 125% poverty guidelines.. Just a work of caution here if you do take on a job at a resturant.

Most restaurant employees are tipped and as such are only paid a ridiculiously low wage (I think here in Ohio it is something like $2.13 per hour). If your goal is only to have extra cash each month, you'll be ok with the crappy hourly wage + tips. BUT if your intent is to show enough income to pass the 125% poverty guidelines then you'll need to declare your tips on taxes. Perhaps a better choice is to get a holiday job at a department store at night or on the weekends. There should be plenty of retailers gearing up to hire employees plus you'll likely be well above the poverty guidelines needed to self sponsor.

[sheeshkabelle 153]

Not all publicly funded benefits will be considered in deciding whether someone is or is likely to become a public charge. The focus of the public charge definition is on cash benefits for income maintenance and institutionalization for long-term care at government expense. Examples of benefits that will not be considered for public charge purposes include:

Medicaid and other health insurance and health services (including public assistance for immunizations and for testing and treatment of symptoms of communicable diseases; use of health clinics, prenatal care, etc.), other support for institutionalization for long-term care, Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), Nutrition programs including Food Stamps, the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC), the National School Lunch and Breakfast programs, and other supplementary and emergency food assistance programs:

Housing assistance

Child care services

Energy assistance, such as the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)

Emergency disaster relief

Foster care and adoption assistance

Educational assistance, including benefits under the Head Start Act and aid for elementary, secondary, or higher education

Job training programs

In-kind, community-based programs, services, or assistance (such as soup kitchens, crisis counseling and intervention, and short-term shelter).

[Moomin 292]

Wrong. One of the things you must show to the CO is that they beneficiary won't be a public burden. If the petitioner is on food stamps then they are themselves a "public burden" and their fiancee will be also. I know someone who was on government and union disability and more than double the poverty guidelines but they were rejected at the consulate because of this.

another concerning thing with the OP is the tourist visa bit. My first impression is this will turn in to one of those "my fiancee is here on a tourist visa and we want to adjust status" situations.

My advice to the petitioner is to get your financial house in order and then start the process. Yes it is difficult to wait but it is just as difficult to try to support a family if you can't afford to support yourself.

How on earth can it be wrong when I clearly state that if it shows a pattern of petitioner being on benefits then it is up to the IO? However, there have been cases where it did not matter. It is also up to the IO to take disability into consideration no matter the amount.

[az110965 252]

How on earth can it be wrong when I clearly state that if it shows a pattern of petitioner being on benefits then it is up to the IO? However, there have been cases where it did not matter. It is also up to the IO to take disability into consideration no matter the amount.

But the OP is NOT disabled and is able bodied and capable of working. I believe it would not bode well for the OP to obtian public assistance while at the same time try to prove financial stability sufficient to supoort an immigrant fiance/wife.

[little_g 35]

Not all publicly funded benefits will be considered in deciding whether someone is or is likely to become a public charge. The focus of the public charge definition is on cash benefits for income maintenance and institutionalization for long-term care at government expense. Examples of benefits that will not be considered for public charge purposes include:

Medicaid and other health insurance and health services (including public assistance for immunizations and for testing and treatment of symptoms of communicable diseases; use of health clinics, prenatal care, etc.), other support for institutionalization for long-term care, Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), Nutrition programs including Food Stamps, the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC), the National School Lunch and Breakfast programs, and other supplementary and emergency food assistance programs:

Housing assistance

Child care services

Energy assistance, such as the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)

Emergency disaster relief

Foster care and adoption assistance

Educational assistance, including benefits under the Head Start Act and aid for elementary, secondary, or higher education

Job training programs

In-kind, community-based programs, services, or assistance (such as soup kitchens, crisis counseling and intervention, and short-term shelter).

Are you saying I can apply for food stamps and housing assistance and not have my husband be a public charge? I have stuggled hard to avoid trying this cause I didn't want us become one. Is this working knowledge or something you heard? I only ask cause right now I am struggling very hard and could use assistance.

[ecirnala 9]

Thanks az110965, I really appreciate the positive comment & help on this. Here in my area (850 Florida), the average wage for a server is about $2.33 - $3.00. That being said, u can also make pretty good serving tables around here even though the base wage is low. I had a job serving tables when i 17 that only paid about $2.15/hr, but I still averaged about $75 a night for only 5hrs. That's what had me thinking about the restaurant idea. Right now I'm just kinda brainstorming & still open to almost anything that would add to my income. I don't know if you saw my comments from earlier, but I do have an angle to keeping the job that I have now even if the pay is kinda low. I just have to find a way to get some extra $ while I'm trying to get things started.

[az110965 252]

Thanks az110965, I really appreciate the positive comment & help on this. Here in my area (850 Florida), the average wage for a server is about $2.33 - $3.00. That being said, u can also make pretty good serving tables around here even though the base wage is low. I had a job serving tables when i 17 that only paid about $2.15/hr, but I still averaged about $75 a night for only 5hrs. That's what had me thinking about the restaurant idea. Right now I'm just kinda brainstorming & still open to almost anything that would add to my income. I don't know if you saw my comments from earlier, but I do have an angle to keeping the job that I have now even if the pay is kinda low. I just have to find a way to get some extra $ while I'm trying to get things started.

You seem like a very level headed young man and you don't come across as lazy or whining. I think you'll be best served by taking on an extra job and earning your own way.

I wish you the best of luck and I am sure before you know it, things will have turned around for you.

[ecirnala 9]

You seem like a very level headed young man and you don't come across as lazy or whining. I think you'll be best served by taking on an extra job and earning your own way.

I wish you the best of luck and I am sure before you know it, things will have turned around for you.

Thanks man, pretty awesome of you.

[KayDeeCee 4,892]

Are you saying I can apply for food stamps and housing assistance and not have my husband be a public charge? I have stuggled hard to avoid trying this cause I didn't want us become one. Is this working knowledge or something you heard? I only ask cause right now I am struggling very hard and could use assistance.

http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.5af9bb95919f35e66f614176543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=775d23cbea6bf210VgnVCM100000082ca60aRCRD&vgnextchannel=8a2f6d26d17df110VgnVCM1000004718190aRCRD

[sheepp 2]

Hi,

From what i have read in Vj it affects. If you are sponsoring someone, how could you support someone if you are being a "public charge"¿ I am sorry and it is not my intention to sound mean, im saying what I think they would see if they see you are getting food stamps. Even if you are getting a co-sponsor for the K1, if the co-sponsor is not helping you with the little extra you need now, how will that person be responsible of your fiancee¿¿

Maybe I am wrong, my advice would be to not do anything about that until you are 100% sure to make it in a way that wont mess up your K1 process. Best luck

Edited November 6, 2011 by sheepp

[Dana-Mića 51]

I'm sorry, I don't BUY this post: Not the Food Stamp question but the way I interpit it.

On $1,000.00 per month a single person would qualify for Food Stamps. That effect on USCIS may show or may not. But, $ 1,000.00 per month if you did your research is very short of USCIS Poverty Requirements.

You state: You are working Full-time now. NO. Not in the USA. Even at the lowest wage you have to be making at least $ 348.00 per week (40 hours) X 52 weeks = $ 18,096.00 per year but still is short $ 600.00 to Guildlines. (Based on $ 8.70 per hour - 40 hours per week X 52 weeks)

I'm just saying: (thinking) You can't be working full-time and only have a Gross Income of $ 1,000.00 per month.

YOU TELL ME.

Remember, its not the Net Income on your Check from your Employer but the Gross Income that USCIS looks at....

I'll give you a little "Cute" Calculator on the Link below... Better to make more than less. And NEVER say your working Full-Time and make $ 1,000.00 per month to USCIS and/or to DHS for Food Stamps.

http://www.freebiecreditreport.com/incomecalculator.php

Good Luck !

where is the minimum wage 8.70???? In NYC minimum wage is 7.25

[sheeshkabelle 153]

Are you saying I can apply for food stamps and housing assistance and not have my husband be a public charge? I have stuggled hard to avoid trying this cause I didn't want us become one. Is this working knowledge or something you heard? I only ask cause right now I am struggling very hard and could use assistance.

Again, I'll restate it, getting food stamps and other 'non-cash' assistance from the government does NOT make the sponsor or the immigrant a public charge.

USCIS- Public Charge

Q. What publicly funded benefits may not be considered for public charge purposes?

A. Non-cash benefits (other than institutionalization for long-term care) are generally not taken into account for purposes of a public charge determination.

Special-purpose cash assistance is also generally not taken into account for purposes of public charge determination.

Non-cash or special-purpose cash benefits are generally supplemental in nature and do not make a person primarily dependent on the government for subsistence. Therefore, past, current, or future receipt of these benefits do not impact a public charge determination. Non-cash or special purpose cash benefits that are not considered for public charge purposes include:

Medicaid and other health insurance and health services (including public assistance for immunizations and for testing and treatment of symptoms of communicable diseases; use of health clinics, short-term rehabilitation services, and emergency medical services) other than support for long-term institutional care

Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP)

Nutrition programs, including Food Stamps, the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC), the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Program, and other supplementary and emergency food assistance programs

Housing benefits

Child care services

Energy assistance, such as the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)

Emergency disaster relief

Foster care and adoption assistance

Educational assistance (such as attending public school), including benefits under the Head Start Act and aid for elementary, secondary, or higher education

Job training programs

In-kind, community-based programs, services, or assistance (such as soup kitchens, crisis counseling and intervention, and short-term shelter)

State and local programs that are similar to the federal programs listed above are also generally not considered for public charge purposes. Please be aware that states may adopt different names for the same or similar publicly funded programs. It is the underlying nature of the program, not the name adopted in a particular state, which determines whether or not it should be considered for public charge purposes. In California, for example, Medicaid is called "Medi-Cal" and CHIP is called "Healthy Families." These benefits are not considered for public charge purposes.

In addition, and consistent with existing practice, cash payments that have been earned, such as Title II Social Security benefits, government pensions, and veterans' benefits, among other forms of earned benefits, do not support a public charge determination. Unemployment compensation is also not considered for public charge purposes.

[Robert&Karen 264]

If you yourself are on food stamps good luck getting a sponsor who will support you all for ten years. You are already a burden yourself, never mind dding more people.

There are publicly funded benefits that are not considered a public charge, but they are still a burden on the taxpayer. There is no way I could sponsor someone, bring them here, then put them on government services and programs to fulfill what I can not. I'd lose to much sleep and all my pride.

Many moons ago I was a welfare workers, there are loopholes for everything. You can have a 2011 Corvette and a 2011 Porsche 911, both paid off, and there are loopholes where you can still qualify for food stamps even with so much property.

I really think you need to look at yourself closely. And know what? I was homeless and on food stamps once myself. After just one issuance I swore NEVER AGAIN.

Only YOU can make that choice.