US issues details of new Green Card rules coming into effect from September 18
Starting September 18, 2026, new regulations from the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services will affect Green Card applications, implementing a more rigorous public charge test. This means applicants will be assessed more thoroughly regarding any public benefits received. However, existing Green Card holders and certain humanitarian cases will not be subject to these enhanced…
The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced extensive policy changes regarding how it will assess the "public charge" ground of inadmissibility for Green Card applications, with new rules set to take effect on September 18, 2026. Under the updated guidance, applicants will be evaluated based on factors such as age, health, family status, assets, financial resources, education, and skills.
Receipt of means-tested public benefits after September 18 will negatively impact applicants, while past cash assistance and long-term institutionalization will also be taken into account. The updated rules represent a broader application of the public charge test compared to the previous 2022 regulations, which only considered cash assistance and institutionalization.
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