# I’m an immigrant, do I qualify for government assistance?

- Link: https://www.lumlawgroup.com/govt-assistance-immigrants/
- Published: 2012-08-30T05:53:27-07:00
- Author: Albert J Lum

You may qualify for government benefits, whether it’s low-cost insurance, food stamps,
rent-control housing, etc. (check if you qualify here), but what you should be asking
yourself is whether you _need_ government assistance.

 

### You might be inadmissible…

Every immigrant application asks if you will become **a public charge, **which means
a public burden (someone who relies on public assistance/benefits).  If you select“
yes”, you may become inadmissible. This is also why you need a sponsor to adjust
status (I-485).

 

### **But I already have a green card…**

If you have already received your green card, it’s important to note that under 
the Immigration and Nationality Act, Section 237(a)(5) it states:

>  “Any alien who, within five years after the date of entry; has become a public
> charge from causes not affirmatively shown to have arisen since entry is deportable.”

This means that even if you have a Permanent Resident Card (green card), you cannot
relax and assume that you have the same rights as US citizens.