12/03/2021
Policy Memo
Summary:
- This memo provides policy for applications received from Afghan Parolees who have been paroled into the U.S. between 07/31/2021 and 09/30/2022.
- As part of Operation Allies Refuge, (OAR) and Operation Allies Welcome (OAW) Afghan Parolees have evacuated Afghanistan, and many have resettled in the U.S.
- Under a continuing resolution, the Extending Government Funding and Delivery Emergency Assistance Act, section 2502 Afghanistan Parolees are eligible to receive all Federal benefits, including SNAP benefits, cash assistance (TANF, RRP), and medical assistance/Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP)) as a Refugee admitted under section 207 and 212(d)(5) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1157) beginning 10/01/2021.
- Afghan Parolees are not subject to a five-year waiting period and are eligible for benefits if they meet all financial and non-financial eligibility requirements. Additionally, a spouse or child of any Afghan humanitarian parolee, is entitled to the same benefits and assistance. The Act allows these individuals to receive benefits for a limited time, either 03/31/2023, or until the end of their parole term, whichever is later.
- Applications received from Afghan Parolees are to be routed to the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS), Family Community Resource Center (FCRC) Special Units Region 1N (Office 209) for processing.
- Until IES can be updated workers should use the instructions provided within the memo.
As part of OAR an OAW, Afghan Parolees have evacuated Afghanistan beginning 07/31/2021 and entered the country through certain Safe Havens located throughout the U.S. Under a continuing resolution, the Extending Government Funding and Delivery Emergency Assistance Act, section 2502, Afghan Parolees are eligible to receive SNAP benefits, cash assistance (TANF, RRP), and medical assistance/CHIP as a Refugee admitted under Section 207 and 212(d) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C 1157) beginning 10/01/2021 or the date of application, whichever is later.
Afghan Parolees are not subject to a five-year waiting period and are eligible for benefits if they meet all financial and non-financial eligibility requirements. Additionally, a spouse or child of any Afghan parolee, is entitled to the same benefits and assistance. The Act allows these individuals to receive benefits for a limited time, either through 03/31/2023, or until the end of their parole term, whichever is later.
Afghan Parolees include the following categories and are potentially eligible for SNAP benefits, Cash assistance (TANF, RRP), and Medical assistance/CHIP as available to Refugees:
- Special Immigrant Visa (SIV);
- Special immigrant Parolees SQ/SI and
- Afghan Parolees without SQ/SI.
Eligibility
The eligibility date for Afghan Special Immigrant Visa holders (SIVs), Afghan Special Immigrant Conditional Permanent Residents (SI CPRs), and Afghan SI/SQ Parolees is the date of entry into the United States, as noted on the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) form I-94 or other federal travel documentation or the date they entered the community. The "date of entry into the community" is the date the individual departed the Safe Haven.
Afghan Parolees without SQ/SI status, the date of eligibility is October 1, 2021 or date of entry into the community whichever is later.
In verifying documentation for the date of eligibility, eligibility workers should follow these steps:
If workers are unable to obtain sufficient documentation to establish an eligibility date, workers may accept verbal/written attestations by the Afghan arrival to provide immediate services to the applicant. Case comments should be updated to reflect this occurrence. Appropriate documentation must be obtained within 60 days. If workers need to request documentation a manual VCL should be issued with a task/reminder to extend the time needed for verification requests. Afghan parolee applicants do not need to request additional time to obtain needed documentation.
Due to the emergent circumstances, many Afghan Parolees may lack documentation verifying parental relationship. If workers are unable to obtain documentation to establish relationship, verbal/written attestation of the relationship of the child to the parent can be accepted on a temporary basis. Case comments should be updated to reflect this occurrence. Appropriate documentation must be obtained within 60 days. If workers need to request documentation a manual VCL should be issued with a task/reminder to extend the time needed for verification requests.
SIV Holders:
Afghan Parolees entering with SIV status are eligible for all Federal benefits, including SNAP benefits, cash assistance, and medical assistance/CHIP without a five-year waiting period. SIV holders will have SQ and SI class of admission codes. Acceptable documents that meet citizen/U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) status for all programs can be found at PM 03-01-02-d WAG 03-01-02-d. In addition to the class of admission codes and acceptable documents, documentation for unmarried Children Under 21 Years of Age of an Afghan Special Immigrant and Principal Applicant Adjusting Status in the United States will include Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Form I-551 ("green card") with an IV ("immigrant visa") code of SI8 or SQ8.
Conditional Permanent Residents (SI-CPRs) meet the immigration status requirement for public benefits under section 602(b)(8) of the Afghan Allies Protection Act of 2009 (8 U.S.C. 1101 note) and are eligible for SNAP benefits, cash assistance and medical assistance/CHIP. SI CPRs will generally have foreign-issued passports with a DHS, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) admission stamp admitting them with a CQ1, CQ2, or CQ3 class of admission. However, some of the Afghan SI CPR arrivals may not have a physical immigrant visa or temporary Form I-551 stamp in their passport. USCIS is also issuing a Form I-551, Permanent Resident Card (Green Card) to these SI CPRs.
Special Immigrant Parolees SI/SQ:
Afghan Parolees entering with SQ/SI Parole are eligible for all Federal benefits, including SNAP benefits, cash assistance, and medical assistance/CHIP without a five-year waiting period. Acceptable documents are:
- Principal Afghan applicant: Afghan passport with immigrant visa stamp noting that the immigrant has been classified under Immigrant Visa (IV) category SI1 or SQ1 and DHS stamp or notation on passport or I-94 showing date of admission.
- Spouse of Principal Afghan: Afghan passport with a visa stamp noting that the individual has been classified under Immigrant Visa IV category SI2 or SQ2 and DHS stamp or notation on passport or I-94 showing date of admission.
- Unmarried children under age 21 of Afghan Special Immigrant: Afghan passport with immigrant visa stamp noting the individual has been classified under IV category SI3 or SQ3 and DHS stamp or notation on passport or I-94 showing date of admission.
- Principal Applicant Afghan Adjusting status in the U.S.: DHS form I-551 "green card" with IV code SI6 or SQ6.
- Spouse of Principal Afghan Applicant Adjusting status in U.S.: DHS form I-551 "green card" with IV code SI7 or SQ7.
- Unmarried children under age 21 of Afghan Principal Applicant Adjusting status in the U.S.: DHS form I-551"green card" with IV code SI8 or SQ8.
- Afghan Principal Applicant, Spouse of Principal Applicant or Child of Principal Applicant: I-94 noting Parole (per section 602(B)(1) AAPA/sec 1059(a) NDAA2006).
Afghan Parolees Without SQ/SI
Afghan Parolees without SQ/SI status are eligible for all Federal benefits. Afghans "paroled" into the U.S. are permitted to enter the country for humanitarian reasons. Types of proof include a DHS Form I-94 noting Humanitarian Parole (per INA section 212(d)(5)(A)), a foreign passport with DHS/CBP admission stamp noting "OAR," or a foreign passport with DHS/CBP admission stamp noting "OAW." Everyone in a family applying for benefits should have their own proof and date their humanitarian parole was granted.
CBP is allowing certain Afghans to enter the United States as non-SI parolee. Afghans are eligible for all Federal benefits. Afghan Parolees:
- Are paroled into the United States under section 212(d)(5) of the Immigration and Nationality Act;
- May have a Form I-765, Employment Authorization Document Application or I-766 Employment Authorization Document (EAD), with a C11 category* or a CBP "PAROLED" stamp in their passport; and
- Are verified by Systemic Alien Verification Entitlement System (SAVE) with a "parolee" response when a SAVE user agency requests verification of their parole. Use SAVE if unable to verify through the IES Verify Lawful Presence (VLP) clearance.
- Afghan Parolees without SQ/SI status may seek asylum status and apply for VTTC benefits in the future.
* USCIS is issuing an EAD with a C11 category to all Afghan non-SI Parolees, regardless of age.
Special Units/Applications
Applications received from Afghan Parolees are to be routed to IDHS FCRC Special Units Region 1N (Office 209) per Action Memo published 10/07/2021 Special Units to Handle Applications for Afghanistan Parolees.
Application Processing IES
- Afghans entering the US between 07/31/2021 through 09/30/2022.
- Derivative Family Members included.
- Eligible for Federal TANF/RRP/SNAP and/or Medical assistance/CHIP as Refugees.
- Criteria for programs remains unchanged.
- Date of Application see Eligibility above.
- US Date of Entry must be as noted on I-94, October 1, 2021, or date they entered into the community if after October 01, 2021.
- Applications received prior to 10/01/2021, US Date of Entry must be entered as 10/01/2021.
- Some Possible Documents for Verification:
- SIV and SQ / SI:
- Afghan Passport with:
- I-94 Employment Authorization Card w/photo; or
- I-765 Employment Authorization Document application; or
- I-766 Employment Authorization Document.
- Humanitarian Parolees:
- Afghanistan Passport stamped with:
- Stamp = OAR or OAW with Class of Admission (COA) = C11.
- IES Case Processing by Screen:
Individual Information
- Date of Birth - Date of birth documents
- Verification - Other Acceptable with Case Comment indicating DOB verified by INS documents.
- SSN - Blank
- SSN Verification - Not Provided
Individual Interviewed/Applicant Details
- Interview Mode - In Person
Relationship Details
- Relationship Verification = Other Acceptable (unless other valid verification) see Eligibility above.
Education Details (unless other valid verification/responses)
- Status - Not Graduated
- Highest Level - Unknown
- Enrollment - Not Enrolled
- Verification - Other Acceptable
Citizenship/Residency
- ID Verification - Immigration Documents (Government Issued)
- Residency - Document from US Dept. of Homeland Security (unless other valid verification)
Individual Demographics - SSN Application/Armed Services
- SSN Applied For - Yes
- SSN App Date - 10/01/2021 or Date of Application, whichever is later
- SSN App Verification - SN-5028 Receipt for Application for a Social Security Number
Non-Citizen Details
- Non-Citizen Admission Status - Documented
- Non-Citizen Type/Doc - Refugee I-94 annotated with 207
- Non-Citizen Type Verification - Other INS Records
- Nation of Origin - Afghanistan Note: This must be entered for IES case identification in the future.
- US Date of Entry - as noted on I-94, October 1, 2021, or date they entered into community if after October 1, 2021
- Non-Citizen 40 Qualifying Quarters - No
- Sponsor - No
Family Assessment Details/RSP
Complete during interview and in correlation with services from other Refugee Services/Entities. Have Head of Household sign RSP and upload to Electronic Case Record (ECR).
[signed copy on file]
Grace B. Hou
Secretary, Illinois Department of Human Services
Theresa Eagleson
Director, Healthcare and Family Services
