US Tightens Green Card Screening As New Public Charge Guidance Takes Effect

By VANCE SHERIFF

THE United States will introduce updated guidance for assessing certain green card applicants from 18 September.

Under the new guidance, immigration officers will determine whether an applicant is likely to become a “public charge” based on several personal and financial factors.

Officials will assess each application individually rather than applying a single standard to all applicants.

The factors will include the applicant’s age, health, family circumstances, assets and resources, financial situation, education and skills.

The updated approach means applicants may face closer scrutiny of their overall circumstances when seeking adjustment of status.

However, the guidance will not apply to every category of immigrant.

Refugees and asylum seekers remain among those exempt from the public charge ground of inadmissibility. Certain victims of trafficking or abuse will also fall within exempt categories.

The new guidance will apply to affected adjustment-of-status applications filed on or after 18 September.

Applicants therefore face the prospect of a more detailed assessment of their financial and personal circumstances as US immigration authorities implement the revised public charge guidance.