The COVID-19 incident period ended on May 11, 2023. FEMA will continue to provide funeral assistance until Sept. 30, 2025, to those who have lost loved ones due to this pandemic.
COVID-19 Funeral Assistance is a type of assistance provided under theFEMA Individuals and Households Program (IHP) that is available to U.S. citizens, non-citizen nationals, or qualified non-citizens. The FEMA Individual Assistance Program and Policy Guide provides the following definitions:
- U.S. Citizen: A person born in one of the 50 United States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, or the Northern Mariana Islands; a person born outside of the U.S. to at least one U.S. parent; or naturalized citizen.
- Non-Citizen National: A person born in an outlying possession of the U.S. (e.g., American Samoa or Swain's Island) on or after the date the U.S. acquired the possession, or a person whose parents are U.S. non-citizen nationals. All U.S. citizens are U.S. nationals; however, not every U.S. national is a U.S. citizen.
- Qualified Non-Citizen: Legal permanent resident ("green card" holder); an asylee, refugee, or a non-citizen whose deportation is being withheld; non-citizen paroled into the U.S. for at least one year; non-citizen granted conditional entry (per law in effect prior to April 1, 1980); Cuban/Haitian entrant; non-citizens in the U.S. who have been abused, subject to battery or extreme cruelty by a spouse or other family/household member, or have been a victim of a severe form of human trafficking; non-citizens whose children have been abused and non-citizen children whose parent has been abused who fit certain criteria.
There are several categories of non-citizens lawfully present in the U.S. who are not eligible for assistance under the FEMA Individuals and Households Program, including COVID-19 Funeral Assistance. These include, but are not limited to:
- Citizens of the Federated States of Micronesia, Palau, and the Republic of the Marshall Islands
- Temporary tourist visa holders
- Foreign students
- Temporary work visa holders
FAQs
You are considered an eligible non-citizen if you meet ONE of the following criteria: You are a U.S. permanent resident with an Alien Registration Card (I-551). You are a conditional permanent resident with an I-551C card.
Who is considered a non-citizen national? ›
All U.S. citizens are considered U.S. nation- als, but not all nationals are citizens. Persons whose only connection to the United States is through birth on Ameri- can Samoa, Swains Island, or the United States Minor Outlying Islands are not U.S. citizens but are U.S. nationals, and therefore may receive FSA funds.
What is a qualified non-citizen? ›
Qualified Aliens are individuals who meet the specific definition of federal rule, which includes lawful permanent residents, asylees, refugees, parolees, individuals granted withholding of deportation or removal, conditional entrants, Cuban or Haitian entrants, battered aliens, and alien victims of a severe form of ...
Who are non-citizen U.S. nationals as defined in the Immigration and Nationality Act INA Section 308? ›
“A person born outside the United States and its outlying possessions of parents both of whom are nationals, but not citizens, of the United States, and have resided in the United States or one of its outlying possessions prior to the birth of such person.”
What is a national but not a citizen? ›
National is the status a person acquires by being born in a country. Citizen is a legal or juristic concept. While national is an ethnic or racial concept. A citizen is a person who has been registered under the laws made by the government of the country while the term national indicates his/her place of birth.
What makes someone a non-citizen? ›
The following are some common causes of statelessness: Lack of birth registration and birth certificates; Birth to stateless parents; Political change and transfer of territory, which may alter the nationality status of citizens of the former state(s);
What is the meaning of national citizen? ›
U.S. Citizen - One who was born either within the territory of the United States or to U.S. citizen parents. U.S. National - One who owes permanent allegiance to the United States. Lawful Permanent Resident Alien - One who is legally accorded the privilege of residing permanently in the United States.
What is a qualified alien for FEMA? ›
“Qualified alien” status includes: A legal permanent resident (“green card” holder) An asylee, refugee or an alien whose deportation is being withheld. An alien paroled into the U.S. for at least one year.
Does FEMA require U.S. citizenship? ›
To qualify for FEMA assistance, you or a member of your household must be a U.S. citizen, non-citizen U.S. national or qualified non-citizen.
Which of the following people would not be considered a non-citizen in the United States? ›
A person born overseas to American parents is not considered a noncitizen in the United States because they automatically receive U.S. citizenship at birth.
Description: Immigrants considered “Qualified aliens” include the following: • Persons lawfully admitted for permanent residence; • Persons admitted as refugees; • Persons granted asylum; • Persons granted status as Cuban and Haitian entrants; • Persons admitted as Amerasian immigrants; • Persons whose deportation has ...
What is the legal definition of American national? ›
(22) The term “national of the United States” means (A) a citizen of the United States, or (B) a person who, though not a citizen of the United States, owes permanent allegiance to the United States.
What is considered an eligible non-citizen for FAFSA? ›
Non-U.S. Citizens
Generally, if you have a “green card” (in other words, if you are a lawful permanent resident), you will be considered an “eligible noncitizen” and will be able to get federal student aid if you meet the other basic eligibility criteria.
What does ineligible non-citizen mean? ›
An individual who is a visitor, diplomat or student from another country has not been admitted for permanent residence and is a nonimmigrant. This individual is ineligible for TAFDC, EAEDC or SNAP benefits. An individual who is a non-legally-residing noncitizen who presents a Final Order of Deportation is ineligible.
What is the document for eligible non-citizen? ›
Lawful permanent residents (LPRs) are noncitizens who are legally permitted to live and work in the U.S. permanently. The standard document is the Permanent Resident Card (Form I-551 since 1997) or Resident Alien Card (Form I-551 before 1997).
What is a non-citizen non immigrant? ›
Nonimmigrant visas are for foreign nationals wishing to enter the United States on a temporary basis - for tourism, medical treatment, business, temporary work, study, or other similar reasons.
