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What are the citizenship and immigration requirements for the Healthy Families Program?

All children applying for the Healthy Families Program must be U.S. citizens, U.S. non-citizen nationals, or eligible qualified immigrants. Questions about citizenship and immigration are asked for each child applying for the Healthy Families Program.

Who is considered an eligible qualified immigrant?

The following is a list of qualified immigrant statuses and the papers we need from you as proof of your child’s status with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS), formerly the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS).

If the immigration papers for statuses 1 through 4 are dated within the last 5 years, but the legal date of entry was before that date, please also send the document that shows the earlier date of entry. If the child entered the U.S. within the last 5 years, the child is eligible for Healthy Families, if all other requirements are met.

1. An alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) must submit a copy of CIS form I-551; or an I-94 with a current I-551 stamp, or an I-551 stamp on a foreign passport; or
2. An alien granted conditional entry pursuant to Section 203(a)(7) of the INA must send a copy of CIS form I-94 with a stamp showing admission under 203(a)7 of the INA or CIS form I-688B showing admission under “274a.12(a)(3)”; or
3. An alien paroled into the U.S. under Section 212(d)(5) of the INA for at least one year must send a copy of CIS form I-94 showing admission for at least one year under section 212(d)(5) of the INA; or a notice, or court order from an immigration Judge granting parole for at least one year; or
4. An alien with the appropriate immigration status who (or whose child or parent) has been battered or subjected to extreme cruelty in the U.S. and there is a substantial connection between the battery or extreme cruelty and the need for the benefits, and who no longer resides in the household of the batterer, must send a copy of the approved CIS form I-130 or approved CIS form 360 petition filed under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), or CIS form I-797 indicating filing of the I-360 petition.
   
   The following groups of immigrants do not have restrictions on the date of entry:
   
5. An alien granted asylum under Section 208 of the INA must send a copy of CIS form I-94 showing grant of asylum under section 208 of the INA; or CIS form I-688B under section “274a.12(a)(5)”; or CIS form I-766 with the code “05,” or a grant letter from the asylum office of the CIS; or an order from an Immigration Judge granting asylum; or
6. A refugee admitted to the U.S. under Section 207 of the INA must send a copy of form I-94 showing admission as a Refugee under section 207 of the INA, or CIS form I-688B under section 274a.12(a)(3) or CIS form I-766 with the code “A3,” or CIS form I-551 with the code “RE” or CIS form I-571, Refugee Travel Document; or
7. An alien whose deportation is being withheld by order of an immigration judge under section 243(h) of the INA as in effect prior to April 1, 1997, or whose removal is being withheld under Section 241(b)(3) of the INA must send a copy of CIS form I-688B with the code “274a.12(a)(10),” or CIS form I-766 with the code “A10”; or
8. An alien who is a Cuban or Haitian entrant as defined in Section 501(e) of the Refugee Education Assistance Act of 1980 must send a copy of CIS form I-551 with the codes CU6, CU7 or CH6; or a current I-551 stamp with the codes CU6 or CU7 on the CIS form I-94; or a current I-551 stamp on a foreign passport with the codes CU6 or CU7; or an CIS form I-94 with a stamp showing parole as a “Cuban/ Haitian entrant” under section 212(d)(50) of the INA; or
9. Qualified aliens lawfully residing in any state who are honorably discharged veterans who fulfill minimum active duty service requirements, or who are on non-training active duty in the U.S. armed forces, must send a copy of DD form 214 or a copy of their military identification card if on active duty, or a copy of current military orders; or
10. The spouse or unmarried dependent or the unmarried surviving spouse whose marriage satisfies the requirements of 38 U.S.C. 1304 of those veterans or persons on active duty described in the previous sentence, must send a copy of a current military identification card to establish marital relationship to the veteran, or parent-child relationship to the veteran; or
11. An Amerasian immigrant admitted to the U.S. pursuant to Section 584 of the Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and Related Programs Appropriations Act of 1988 as described in Section 1612(a)(2)(A)(1)(V) of Title 8 of the United States Code must send a copy of CIS form I-551 with the code AM6, AM7, or AM8. A current temporary I-551 stamp in a foreign passport with the code AM1, AM2 or AM3; or CIS form I- 94 with the codes AM1, AM2 or AM3.

When must papers be submitted?

You have two months from the date of enrollment to provide proof of citizenship or immigration status papers. If a child is disenrolled because you did not submit the necessary papers, you can reapply again but you must submit copies of the birth certificate, certificate of naturalization, U.S. passport or CIS documents at the time you reapply.

If you have questions about acceptable papers, call 1-800-880-5305. The call is free.

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