US green card rules change from September 18: What new ‘public charge’ test means for Indians

The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced new rules effective September 18 that will determine whether certain applicants for lawful permanent residence may be considered a "public charge." This change comes after the Department of Homeland Security rescinded 2022 regulations. The new framework requires a case-by-case assessment, focusing on whether applicants are likely to become dependent on taxpayer-funded government benefits.

Applicants who receive any means-tested public benefit such as cash assistance, housing aid, or food stamps may be subject to this determination. USCIS officers will consider five factors when making public charge inadmissibility decisions, including age, health, family status, assets, and education and skills. Certain groups, including asylees, refugees, and victims of human trafficking, are exempt from the public charge rule.