Eligibility for FEMA Disaster Relief for Immigrants
Kyle Huffman • October 13, 2023
Recently, a series of natural disasters spanning across the United States have dominated headlines. From the wildfires in Maui, to hurricanes striking both the west and east coast of the continental United States just weeks apart. Collectively, these natural disasters have cost, and are expected to cost the United States tens of billions of dollars in damage.
With the news coverage of these horrible events, many individuals in the United States who are either undocumented or living with temporary status have questions about their eligibility to receive disaster assistance if a natural disaster happens to them. Thankfully, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) offers clear guidance on this eligibility to receive FEMA Aid in response to a natural disaster or similar emergency.
FEMA does offer assistance, which can take forms including direct financial assistance for rental assistance, home repair, property loss, or medical losses, for qualified non-citizens. In this context, a qualified non-citizen includes any of the following:
- Legal Permanent Residents (“Green Card” holders)
- Non-citizens granted asylum
- Refugees
- Non-citizens whose deportation status is being withheld for at least one year
- Non-citizens paroled into the U.S. for at least one year for urgent humanitarian purposes or significant public benefit
- Cuban/Haitian entrants
- Certain battered non-citizens or their spouses or children
- Certain victims of a severe form of human trafficking, including persons with a “T” or “U” visa
Furthermore, a household may apply for certain forms of assistance on behalf of a qualified minor child, so long as the parent or guardian of the qualifying minor child lives in the same household, and applies as a co-applicant.
If you have any questions about what this means for you, please schedule a consultation with one of our experienced attorneys.
We look forward to working with you.
This blog is not intended to be legal advice and nothing here should be construed as establishing an attorney client relationship. Please schedule a consultation with an immigration attorney before acting on any information read here.
During the recent administration there has been an increase in issuance of Requests for Evidence for EB-1A petitions for those of Extraordinary Ability. A Request for Evidence is a request that is made by USCIS that should explain how the evidence is deficient in proving the criteria argued and what additional evidence needs to be provided by the applicant to meet the criteria. EB-1A petitions are already normally subject to higher scrutiny because their approval is the first step needed to apply for Lawful Permanent Residence or a green card. USCIS normally requires not just evidence but that the evidence be provided with context and information to show why it matters in a particular field. For example, if you were providing evidence of your membership in an organization that requires outstanding achievements of its members, just providing evidence of the membership is not enough. You must explain what that membership is and provide background information on the organization granting the membership. You also need to provide evidence on the criteria that is used to select the members, information on those who select the members to show that they are recognized experts, other documentation such as articles about the membership organization to show its importance, and any other relevant evidence and background information to show that the criteria is met. A request for evidence being issued prior to the current administration was not uncommon, but in the current climate it is more surprising to not receive a request for evidence for this type of case. It is important to remember that a request for evidence is not a denial. Depending on the validity of the information in the request and the substance some Requests for Evidence can be overcome, and the case be approved. It is important to carefully review the request and note if there are any errors in the content and application of the regulations by USCIS. If you have an attorney, you should work with them and make sure that you provide any evidence you think may be helpful. Although there is a deadline by which a response must be submitted, attention to detail and patience will go a long way when dealing with having to respond to a request for evidence. If you believe you may qualify for this type of visa, please feel free to contact our office.
Once you have connected with a college program, have been admitted to the school, and deemed eligible to compete athletically, you will need to secure an F-1 student visa in order to actually attend your new college and begin your time as a student athlete. The first step in the visa process is to receive your Form I-2
For many talented athletes around the world, U.S. college athletics represent a remarkable opportunity to combine elite athletic competition with higher education. In sports such as basketball, soccer, track and field, and tennis, among others, hundreds of colleges and universities across the United States offer struct
