During 2025, those who seek Permanent residency in the United States can face Changes In the known standard General charge (general charge) Or the reason for inadmissibility is due to government affiliation. he Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS)for short) registered with the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA, for short) a proposal that It could change the way the use of public goods is evaluated.
The proposal registered with OIRA on November 3, 2025 could mean changes in the scope of the rule. According to an article he published NewsweekThe official text of the proposal has not been released publicly, so… The exact differences are unknown. Until the proposed rule is posted for comment, Any modification remains at the initial stage.
but, The current rule is still in effectApplicants should base their decisions on this as the regulatory process develops. Those interested should stay tuned for official updates, e.g Rules may evolve based on organizational decisions and administrative policies.
As stated on the Uscis website, the rule currently in place was created in September 2022 and went into effect in December of the same year. This rule preserved the historical interpretation of the concept General charge: Only a noncitizen who is likely to rely primarily on government assistance to cover basic living needs is considered a public charge..
The definition focuses on two main areas:
In the context of green card applications, It is considered possible General charge May result in denial of permanent residency. Therefore, it is important to understand which benefits are taken into account, which do not influence the selection and what factors are evaluated in each case.
the 2022 rule Just proves it Some benefits are considered relevant evidence To determine whether a person can depend on the government. Among them:
In these cases, Assistance should focus on the direct maintenance of family income.
Another aspect involved is Institutionalization of financing by public authorities. This refers to stays in long-term care facilities where costs are covered Medicaid or other government funds. This criterion is limited to cases of extended institutionalization It does not apply to temporary or rehabilitative health services.
Use these benefits It does not automatically determine that a person is considered a public charge. Officers must evaluate the totality of the circumstances, which involves reviewing documents, work history, family environment and financial stability.
The current rule makes that clear Most social programs and supports are not part of the analysis. Among them:
The benefits received by other family members also do not affect the applicant’s evaluation. For example, if a child of a U.S. citizen receives public health care or food assistance, This is not considered a negative factor for the person applying for a green card..
This distinction is intended to prevent eligible families from foregoing health or food services for fear of immigration consequences. Although anxiety still exists in many homes,… The 2022 rule clearly defines which programs it affects and which programs it does not.
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