Archive · 20 Aug 2026
US Green Card Public-Charge Test Broadens From September 18
The United States is changing how it checks some green-card applications.
Officers will consider whether an applicant might become dependent on certain government benefits.
This is called the “public charge” test.
The new guidance begins on September 18.
It replaces rules used during the Biden administration and earlier guidance from 1999.
Officers will make a broader decision based on each person’s situation.
The government says immigrants should be self-sufficient and not rely on taxpayer-funded benefits.
Indian applicants in categories covered by this rule may be affected.
USCIS issued new guidance for assessing whether some applicants may become a “public charge.”
The guidance takes effect on September 18 and replaces the 2022 framework.
It also replaces the 1999 Interim Field Guidance, according to USCIS.
The new approach uses a broader, case-by-case assessment of applicants’ circumstances.
Indian nationals seeking permanent residency in affected categories could be impacted.
- Who
- The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and immigration officers will apply the new guidance; affected applicants include some Indian nationals seeking permanent residency.
- What
- The United States is replacing its public-charge framework with a broader, case-by-case assessment.
- When
- The new guidance takes effect on September 18.
- Where
- The change applies to relevant immigration and lawful-permanent-residence applications in the United States.
- Why
- The guidance is intended to follow congressional policy that foreign nationals should be self-sufficient and not dependent on taxpayer-funded government benefits.
Previous Framework
New Framework
How applicants are assessed
Previous Framework
The Biden-era 2022 framework governed public-charge determinations before the change.
New Framework
The replacement framework calls for a broader, case-by-case assessment by immigration officers.
Policy emphasis
Previous Framework
The prior framework was the applicable standard before September 18.
New Framework
The Trump administration’s guidance emphasizes congressional intent that foreign nationals be self-sufficient and not dependent on taxpayer-funded government benefits.
- Issuing agency
- U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)
- Effective date
- September 18
- Affected process
- Certain applications for lawful permanent residence
- Assessment
- A broader, case-by-case public-charge review
- Replaced framework
- The 2022 public-charge regulations
- Earlier guidance replaced
- The 1999 Interim Field Guidance
- Potentially affected applicants
- Indian nationals applying through categories subject to the public-charge ground of inadmissibility