US Green Card rules change from Sept 18: What new public-charge scrutiny means for Indian applicants - The Indian Express
Indian nationals applying for US permanent residency are set to face new rules related to public-charge assessment, as the updated guidance by US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) comes into effect on September 18.
The updated guidance in the USCIS Policy Manual expands the financial scrutiny for family and employment-based green card applicants. The manual also details how immigration officers will determine whether an applicant applying for adjustment of status to that of a lawful permanent resident is likely at any time to become a public charge.
The change could affect Indian nationals applying for US permanent residency through categories subject to the public-charge rule.
The updated USCIS policy was published on its website on August 18, following a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) final rule published in July 2026 that rescinds the 2022 Biden-era public charge inadmissibility regulations. The Trump administration stated that the updated guidance aligns with congressional intent that applicants in the United States be self-sufficient and not dependent on taxpayer-funded government benefits.
The USCIS officials will consider five statutory factors when making public charge inadmissibility determinations.
The USCIS guidance also details that immigration officials may consider Form I-864, Affidavit of Support Under Section 213A of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), which is executed by an individual who agrees to use their financial resources to support the applicant.
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