Green card, sponsor, and unemployment?

Question

Hey guys,

I know this might be a simple question but I need your experience. I could find the answer alone but I need some feedback. If I'm waiting for my green card interview (thourgh marriage) and have a joint sponsor already but I got laid off, do I qualify for unemployment ? thanks

Answer 1

No my friend.  You are not eligible.  Regardless of the state (there is no state that has a law extending unemployment compensation to aliens (legal or illegal, permanent residents or not).  Once you are a citizen, then you become eligble for this and other types of assistance (e.g. medicaid/medicare, etc).

Your joint sponsor can be held liable to reimburse the government any monies that are mistakenly or necessarily given to you (agreed when they signed the I-864).

(BTW, I am not speaking to local aid, like rent subsidies and public education and the like, which are based on local municipalities (though specifically outlawed statewide by certain states).

Answer 2

Each of the 50 states has its own laws regarding unemployment compensation.  Nobody on this site can answer the question for you.