IM-103 October 4, 2004; IM-56 April 18, 2003; IM-142 November 6, 1998
An immigrant must be a qualified immigrant as well as in one of the eligible immigrant categories (see 1105.010.10 Eligible Immigrants) to be eligible for the Food Stamp Program. The qualified immigrant categories are:
- lawful permanent resident of the United States under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), including Amerasian
- refugee admitted under section 207 of the INA
- granted asylum under section 208 of the INA
- paroled under section 212(d)(5) of the INA for at least one year
- deportation withheld under 243(h) or 241(b)(3) of the INA in effect prior to April 1,1997
- granted conditional entry under 203(a)(7) in effect prior to 4/1/80
- Cuban/Haitian entrant as defined in 501(e) of the Refugee Education Assistance Act of 1980
- immigrant, parent, or child of an immigrant who has been battered or subjected to extreme cruelty in the U.S. by a spouse, parent, or by a member of the spouse or parent’s family residing in the same EU as the immigrant at the time of the abuse. There must be a substantial connection between the battery or extreme cruelty and the need for food stamp benefits and the individual must not reside in the same household as the abuser.