With the Coronavirus pandemic affecting the whole world, many clients have called us concerned with the accumulation of debts and the loss or reduction of hours at work. The question many immigrants have is whether they can apply for unemployment benefits.
Unemployment benefits are public benefits, and our office recommends avoiding public benefits due to the negative immigration consequences that these may have. However, since the current crisis is too unusual and extraordinary, receiving unemployment benefits for a limited time should not have an impact on most pending and future applications for immigration benefits.
Unfortunately, there are cases where receiving unemployment benefits can have a significant negative impact, for example, on applications for Consular Processing (Form DS-260). For these types of cases the receipt of unemployment benefits should be avoided.
As always, two cases are never the same and it is important to receive specific legal advice for your particular situation. If you or someone you know needs help applying for a change of status or any other immigration benefits, my office is ready to help you. Call to schedule an appointment today at: 866-661-3816. We continued to help clients via phone, email, and video conference during the COVID-19 crisis.
Stay safe,
DISCLAIMER: This blog and any information contained herein are intended for informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice. Seek competent advice on advice on any legal matter
