Green Card alert: Indian applicants to face fresh hurdles under new rule, here's what you need to know
Indian nationals seeking employment-based Green Cards face heightened scrutiny from September 18, as USCIS updates public charge guidelines.
Starting September 18, new guidelines from US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will increase scrutiny for Indian nationals seeking employment-based Green Cards. The "public charge" assessment, which may lead to denial of a Green Card application, now considers a broader range of factors, including age, health, family status, assets, education, skills, and potential employment.
USCIS may request evidence of the applicant's ability to work, such as job offers and anticipated salary. If an officer determines that an applicant is likely to become a public charge, they can request a public charge bond, allowing the applicant to stay in the country. This change aligns with the Department of Homeland Security's recent decision to revoke the public charge regulations established under the Biden administration.
The policy update broadens the basis for rejecting Green Card applications while exempting certain categories, including refugees, asylees, and victims of human trafficking. In 2023, about 78,100 Indian applicants received Green Cards, with 60% of them qualifying through family ties to US citizens or Green Card holders.
Written by urgent.news from Hindustan Times - World News's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
