INS' public charge policy is consistent with policy issued by the FNS for the WIC Program in WIC Policy Memorandum #98-7, dated March 19, 1998, "Impact of Participation in the WIC Program on Alien Status". The WIC policy issued in 1998 was developed based on agreements reached with the INS and the State Department. Therefore, the INS policy on public charge, and that issued by the State Department to its consulates overseas, merely restates and reinforces the agreement previously reached on the impact of participation in the WIC Program on immigration status.