110 STAT. 2262 PUBLIC LAW 104-193—AUG. 22, 1996 or to any benefit payable under title II of the Social Security Act to which entitlement is based on an application filed in or before the month in which this Act becomes law. (c) FEDERAL PUBLIC BENEFIT DEFINED. — (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), for purposes of this title the term "Federal public benefit" means— (A) any grant, contract, loan, professional license, or commercial license provided by an agency of the United States or by appropriated funds of the United States; and (B) any retirement, welfare, health, disability, public or assisted housing, postsecondary education, food assistance, unemplo5ment benefit, or any other similar benefit for which pa3anents or assistance are provided to an individual, household, or family eligibility unit by an agency of the United States or by appropriated funds of the United States. (2) Such term shall not apply— (A) to any contract, professional license, or commercial license for a nonimmigrant whose visa for entry is related to such employment in the United States; or (B) with respect to benefits for an alien who as a work authorized nonimmigreuit or as an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence under the Immigration and Nationality Act qualified for such benefits and for whom the United States under reciprocal treaty agreements is required to pay benefits, as determined by the Attorney General, after consultation with the Secretary of State. 8 USC 1612. SEC. 402. LIMITED ELIGIBILITY OF QUALIFIED ALIENS FOR CERTAIN FEDERAL PROGRAMS. (a) LIMITED ELIGIBILITY FOR SPECIFIED FEDERAL PROGRAMS.— (1) IN GENERAL.— Notwithstanding any other provision of law and except as provided in paragraph (2), an alien who is a qualified alien (as defined in section 431) is not eligible for any specified Federal program (as defined in paragraph (3)). (2) EXCEPTIONS. — (A) TIME-LIMITED EXCEPTION FOR REFUGEES AND ASYLEES. —Paragraph (1) shall not apply to an alien until 5 years after the date— (i) an alien is admitted to the United States as a refugee under section 207 of the Immigration and Nationality Act; (ii) an alien is granted asylum under section 208 of such Act; or (iii) an alien's deportation is withheld under section 243(h) of such Act. (B) CERTAIN PERMANENT RESIDENT ALIENS. —Paragraph (1) shall not apply to an alien who— (i) is lawfully admitted to the United States for permanent residence under the Immigration and Nationality Act; and (ii)(I) has worked 40 qusdifying quarters of coverage as defined under title II of the Social Security Act or can be credited with such qualifying quarters as provided under section 435, and (II) in the case
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