Unemployment benefits in WA (H1B visa)
Has anyone in WA ever applied for unemployment benefits? Does it impact your h1b or green card prospects in the future? Roughly how much can you expect to get from them if your current TC is 0?
Getting unemployment now as GC holder; $999/wk 899/wk after 10% deduction for federal taxes), my old TC was 250k. The amount is based on your earnings for the previous 12 months IIRC. Minimum is $300/wk
It is generally a consensus among attorneys that h1bs are not eligible for unemployment due to the "ready and able" requirement for unemployment. H1bs never fulfill the criteria because they cannot be ready for employment without sponsorship from company. If you are asked a question "are you ready and available to work" when claiming unemployment and you wrongfully answer yes, it may come back to bite you later. https://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/can-temporary-nonimmigrant-workers-qualify-for-unemployment-benefits.html
Ahh makes sense
If you are on visa , you are not eligible for UE benefits
I just spoke to an immigration lawyer and he mentioned - You can claim unemployment benefits because it is an employment benefit which you have accrued and not a public benefit. Public benefits have issues later during green card but not employment benefits. And being on H1B to claim these benefits is not an issue
From the prospect of eligibility, im sure the state would have some process to determine that. But atleast it has no impact on green card later.
Also look at the last point in this faq - https://esd.wa.gov/unemployment/citizenship-and-legal-rights
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