destone

I work in Tech and got laid off last month. I am doing my absolute best to land a job but given my seniority in the industry it is tough. Not to mention that I am competing with ex-Google, ex-Meta etc. folks, and I am based in San Francisco...

California offers an unemployment program, and I could collect close to $500/week according to their calculator.

I am applying for citizenship in three years. Should I apply for this benefit would it have any bearing on my citizenship application? I originally came to the US on L-1A in 2020, and got my Green Card through the employer (EB1C) a year later in 2021. I've been employed by the petitioning employer until I got laid off on March 1.

tht

If it is anything like NY the program it is state run and funded by employer/employee payroll deduction and is not a federal benefit. In NY it is called unemployment Insurance and the claims are paid from the premiums paid in.

PetrifiedExPat

Others will comment on your core question, but, I commiserate with the layoff. Tech and biotech are in a rough spot, and the more senior you are, the worse it is. Strategically we hope this will turn around by Q4.

If you need a chat, PM me, been there, but it will get better.

PetrifiedExPat

MA has something similar. Can be a life saver. Not sure about CA though

Expatrian

I would not be concerned for the reasons others have mentioned. California’s program is also funded by employee/employer contributions, so it’s not a welfare program. I’m sure you would have been be back to work for a long time by the time you're up for citizenship. USCIS will be looking at your tax and criminal records for naturalization, so that will all need to look good, but I would not be concerned about pulling unemployment at all, not to mentioned it’s primarily for layoffs vs something you initiated like getting fired or quitting.

SanDiegogirl

Sorry to hear about your layoff - this came at the same time my nephew also got laid off from large tech company in San Francisco.
Good luck in your job search.

S Folinsky

Interesting, four responses and none of them addresses much less answers OP’s question.

SanDiegogirl

Probably because those that have responded have not found themselves in this situation.
However, tht, petrified expat and expatrian have commented on the fact that the unemployment benefit scheme is (certainly in CA) funded by employers, and is not therefore regarded as a Federal welfare/benefit program. It's more an insurance program.
If destone's employer has contributed to the scheme, then he is eligible for such payments.
It is very unlikely to affect destone's citizenship application in a few years time.

Nutmegger

You are in California. Do you have anything constructive to add?

jjmb

This might help: https://edd.ca.gov/en/Unemployment/UI-Calculator

My daughter, who was unemployed for nearly 18 months in Texas, got full benefits because she had worked for the State for more than 15 yrs (including her campus work at college). If the California system is like TX, which depends on the length of your employment and how much you have contributed, you might not be entitled to much if you have only been here for 3 yrs. Good luck with the job search. My daughter has several friends in the data area who are also looking for work due to layoffs.

destone

Thank you, all, for your kind support! I submitted my application to California today. Will keep this thread updated with any developments.

RICH

I do not have personal experience of applying for benefits, but I don't see any indication that unemployment benefits affect eligibility for citizenship. And I have not heard of it being an issue in 20 years viewing this site.
https://www.uscis.gov/citizenship/le...ent-of-5-years

PetrifiedExPat

To be fair, mate, that's where someone like you would come in.... but, since you are not his/her attorney, the only really useful advice is 'go speak to an attorney'.

I know it's usual for a lot of American's to not give a toss about each other, but a few kind words can help. Worth a try?

RICH

Hi Mr F In your experience as an immigration lawyer (retired), has a citizenship application you dealt with ever been affected/refused because of the applicants receipt of unemployment benefits? Yes or No?

Pulaski

Make that five.