US Green Card Applicants Will Face New Screening Criteria

AP

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security will change the procedure for reviewing green card applications. Immigration officials will be able to conduct a more detailed assessment of applicants, taking into account their financial situation, health condition, family circumstances, education, and professional skills, Economic Times reports.

Green Card Applicants to Undergo Financial Stability Assessment

The new rules are related to the application of the public charge provision, which allows authorities to consider the likelihood that a foreign national may become dependent on government assistance after obtaining permanent resident status in the United States.

When reviewing green card applications, officials will be able to analyze a wide range of factors related to an applicant’s personal circumstances. These may include age, health condition, marital status, financial resources, assets, level of education, and professional qualifications.

The approach marks a shift toward a more individualized assessment of each case. Decisions will be made based on the overall circumstances of the applicant rather than only specific formal criteria.

Expanded Powers for U.S. Immigration Authorities

The changes will expand the ability of immigration officials to evaluate green card applicants. Officers will be able to consider not only a person’s current circumstances but also the likelihood that they will be able to financially support themselves after moving to the United States.

The review process will focus on the applicant’s economic situation, professional background, and employment prospects. Personal factors that may affect a person’s ability to maintain financial independence will also be taken into account.

The new approach means that individual judgment by immigration officers will play a more significant role in application decisions. Even applicants with similar formal qualifications may receive different outcomes depending on the overall circumstances presented in their cases.

When Will the New Rules Take Effect?

The new policy was published in the U.S. Federal Register on July 17. The rule is expected to take effect on September 18, AP reports. U.S. law already requires applicants for permanent residency to prove that they are unlikely to become a “public charge.” However, the new initiative introduced by the Donald Trump administration expands the grounds that may lead to a green card denial.

The rule does not include a specific list of government programs that would automatically result in rejection. Instead, decisions will be made individually, taking into account all circumstances of the applicant.

Impact of the Changes on Migrants in the United States

Government Position

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) stated that the new policy is intended to restore the principle of financial self-sufficiency among immigrants. “The Trump administration is restoring the basic principle that immigrants should be able to support themselves,” USCIS said in a statement on X.

The agency also said the rule is aimed at protecting public resources and ending policies that, in the administration’s view, could encourage reliance on taxpayer-funded assistance.

Human Rights Groups’ Concerns

The return of the public charge rule has drawn criticism from immigrant rights organizations. Adriana Cadena, executive director of Protecting Immigrant Families, said the policy represents a direct attack on immigrant families and could negatively affect public health and economic security.

Sarah Krieger, senior policy counsel at the National Immigration Law Center, argued that the new requirements could create fear among immigrants and discourage people from seeking medical care, purchasing food, or using assistance programs they are legally entitled to access.

Potential Impact Statistics

According to Manatt Health, the previous version of the rule could have led up to 26 million people to avoid seeking medical care, food assistance, or housing programs, even when they were legally eligible for them.

At the same time, a 2020 study by the Migration Policy Institute found that the number of people who could actually lose eligibility for a green card specifically because of using government benefits was relatively small. The institute estimated this group at no more than 167,000 people — less than 1% of the 22.1 million noncitizens living in the United States at that time.

Conclusion

International Investment analysts note that the return of the public charge rule is part of a broader trend toward stricter U.S. immigration policies affecting both foreigners with legal grounds to remain in the country and undocumented migrants.

Earlier, the United States introduced restrictions on visa issuance for citizens of certain countries and increased scrutiny of several categories of applicants. Additional requirements affected students, workers, exchange program participants, and journalists: authorities limited stays under F, J, and I visas and expanded oversight of status changes.

For foreigners already in the United States, the changes mean they will need to pay closer attention to maintaining compliance with their immigration status and document expiration dates. Those planning to move to the country should consider that immigration procedures are becoming more selective and require more thorough preparation.