Office of Refugee and Immigrant Assistance

Changes to immigration rules on public benefit use

The State of Washington’s Department of Social and Health Services has reviewed the rules and wants to provide accurate, reliable information for individuals and families who may be impacted by changing policies. Here is what we know:

• Programs and services administered by the Department of Social and Health Services will remain in place and are accessible to people who are eligible.
• DSHS continues to protect the confidentiality of clients’ personal information and does not share this information unless required by state or federal law.
• Public charge does not apply to all immigrants. Every family is different and people should make the right choice for them and their families, based on their specific situation.
• The rule does not impact lawful permanent residents applying for U.S. citizenship or naturalization.
• This new rule does not apply to people who are refugees and asylees, Amerasian immigrants, Afghan and Iraqi Special Immigrant Visa Holders, Cuban/Haitian Entrants, humanitarian parolees, victims of human trafficking (T- Visa), victims of criminal activity (U-Visa), Special Immigrant Juveniles or VAWA (Violence Against Women Act) self-petitioners.
• It may impact those applying for lawful permanent residency (“green cards”) or admission to the United States — including diversity visa immigrants and applications to renew, change or extend visas in the United States.
• Many public benefits are not part of the new rule. Families should feel comfortable continuing to use benefits they are eligible for that are not implicated under the new rule.
  • The new rule will consider cash assistance programs, long-term medical institutionalization and some federal health care, nutrition and housing benefits.
  • The new rule will not consider any other federal benefits. That includes WIC, CHIP, school lunches, food banks, shelters and many more.
  • No changes are being made to non-cash state and local benefits.
• The rule will apply to applications for adjustments of status, extensions of stay or permanent residency postmarked on or after Feb. 24, 2020.
• The rule will consider benefits received on or after Feb. 24, 2020. It does not apply retroactively and cannot consider benefits received prior to this date.
• It does not count the use of benefits by a person’s family members. The use of benefits by children or other household members would not be counted against an individual applying for permanent residency or admission to the United States.

Those with questions or concerns about the impact of using public benefits on their immigration status should contact an immigration attorney. Resources may be available through one of the organizations listed on the Governor’s website. Additionally, you may contact one of the following organizations for help:

• CLEAR Hotline: 1-888-201-1014
• Northwest Immigrant Rights Project (NWIRP):
  • NWIRP Seattle Office: 206-587-4009
  • NWIRP Yakima Valley (Granger) Office: 509-854-2100
  • NWIRP Wenatchee Office: 509-570-0054

Expansion of Refugee Elders Program

The Washington Office of Refugee & Immigrant Assistance is pleased to announce an expansion of our Refugee Elders Program.  By the end of September 2019, ORIA will invest $250,000 in services to refugees and other eligible immigrants who are 60 years of age or older.  Services can offer a variety of assistance, including helping refugee elders access mainstream aging services, providing education workshops and other direct services, developing opportunities for refugee elders to connect with their communities and much more.  ORIA is now accepting Letters of Interest from organizations wanting to participate in this program.  Letters are due on August 15, 2019, and can be submitted via email to ORIAInfo@dshs.wa.gov.  Questions may be submitted to that email address as well.   For more information, please refer to the attached announcement.

New pilot Refugee Youth Mentoring Program

The Washington Office of Refugee and Immigrant Assistance is now accepting applications from community partners to participate in the new pilot Refugee Youth Mentoring Program.  With this application, ORIA will invest $425,000 of federal funding into one or more organizations to engage refugee youth ages 18 to 24 in meaningful mentorship opportunities. The full application is due on August 7, 2019 at 5:00 pm.  There is an information session scheduled for July 9, 2019 at 1:00 pm, details are in the application packet. 

On Tuesday, July 9, 2019, the Washington Office of Refugee and Immigrant Assistance hosted an information session to answer questions related to our open application for the new Refugee Youth Mentoring Program.  We want to thank everyone who participated.  As requested, ORIA has compiled a list of all of the questions asked and provided the most accurate answers possible at this time.  With this email, we share with you the Q&A and the PowerPoint presentation from the information session.

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