UI impacting or not

[d9a]

For my pending employment based 485, will getting unemployment benefits affect 485 approval ? The main benefits are unemployment paycheck and medical insurance, both I believe are provided by state agencies. Are these UI treated public burden or not ?

In addition, will USCIS knows I am currently unemployed via my using of UI etc. ?

Thank you, and hopefully I will find a new job asap to eliminate risks.

[Belle]

It's not considered to be public burden. However, depending on your circumstances, not having a job or job offer might put your pending I-485 in danger. If the USCIS gets a wiff of it (which is unlikely, by the way), it may issue and RFE.

[shandan]

I would say Yes it is public charge, but I am no attorney.

[JoeF]

Unemployment benefits are not public aid. They come out of an insurance the employers pay into.

But, if you are the primary applicant, the GC job should be open to you at all times, so if it isn't, you may get into problems with USCIS.

[t75]

UI benefits vary greatly by state.