USCIS Tightens Green Card Public Charge Review Under Revised Rules
Revised US immigration rules expand the public charge assessment for most Green Card applicants, with refugees and trafficking victims exempt.
The United States has implemented revised rules governing the assessment of Green Card applicants, with the changes taking effect on 18 September. The updated framework broadens the public charge evaluation for most individuals seeking permanent residency in the country.
Under the revised rules, applicants in the family-based and employment-based categories remain subject to the public charge review. This means that those applying for permanent residency through relatives or through job sponsorship will continue to face scrutiny under the expanded assessment.
However, certain groups have been carved out of the new requirements. Refugees and victims of trafficking are exempt from the public charge evaluation, according to the revised guidelines.
The public charge assessment is used to determine whether an applicant is likely to become primarily dependent on the government for subsistence. The revised rules expand the scope of this review for most applicants, though the exemptions for refugees and trafficking victims provide relief for those categories.
The changes mark a significant shift in how permanent residency applications are evaluated, affecting a broad range of applicants while maintaining protections for vulnerable groups.