Coronavirus testing won’t count against immigrants trying to get green cards, feds say

[sri_india]

When immigration officials rolled out their “public charge” rule last month, people who were sick were deemed a “burden” to the U.S. and their health conditions were counted against them when applying for a green card.

Late Friday, however, part of that changed— at least when it comes to coronavirus, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services announced. Any immigrant who gets tested or treated for the virus will not be negatively impacted.

“USCIS encourages all those, including aliens, with symptoms that resemble coronavirus (COVID-19) (fever, cough, shortness of breath) to seek necessary medical treatment or preventive services,” the agency said in a statement. “Such treatment or preventive services will not negatively affect any alien as part of a future public charge analysis.”

The agency continued: “To address the possibility that some aliens impacted by COVID-19 may be hesitant to seek necessary medical treatment or preventive services, USCIS will neither consider testing, treatment, nor preventative care (including vaccines, if a vaccine becomes available) related to COVID-19 as part of a public charge inadmissibility determination, nor as related to the public benefit condition applicable to certain nonimmigrants seeking an extension of stay or change of status, even if such treatment is provided or paid for by one or more public benefits, as defined in the rule (e.g. federally funded Medicaid).”

Fear among immigrant communities nationwide to get tested for the virus if symptoms developed has been rampant, advocates say. People in line for green card considerations have worried that if contracting the virus and seeking treatment for it would impact their chances of getting their permanent residency in the U.S.

[tom bhayya]

Thank you uscis 

[r2d2]

fair enough 

[Amrita]

1 minute ago, tom bhayya said:

Thank you uscis 

I doesn’t matter for u know 

[tacobell fan]

Thank You @TRUMP. MAGA

[Sucker]

1 minute ago, r2d2 said:

fair enough 

Thank you @USCIS1

[tom bhayya]

2 minutes ago, Amrita said:

I doesn’t matter for u know 

Ya this year end I am planning to go back to India for good

[Amrita]

5 minutes ago, tom bhayya said:

Ya this year end I am planning to go back to India for good

Oh cool !  

[Catabolite]

9 minutes ago, tom bhayya said:

Ya this year end I am planning to go back to India for good

What will happen to palamuru grill

[Mingutha]

1 minute ago, Catabolite said:

What will happen to palamuru grill

[PilliBeta]

On 3/15/2020 at 12:53 PM, tom bhayya said:

Ya this year end I am planning to go back to India for good

What happened to Palamuru Grill?

[Spartan]

8 minutes ago, PilliBeta said:

What happened to Palamuru Grill?

eppudo ammesadu  pre-pandemic

[ARYA]

1 minute ago, Spartan said:

eppudo ammesadu  pre-pandemic

Biryanis and Bhojanam kada?

[PilliBeta]

2 minutes ago, Spartan said:

eppudo ammesadu  pre-pandemic

Inka Doordash/Grubhub lo undi idi

[Spartan]

1 minute ago, PilliBeta said:

Inka Doordash/Grubhub lo undi idi

ammesadu anna..museyale anna kada..

vere management managing it.