{"id":28148,"date":"2026-07-21T07:44:39","date_gmt":"2026-07-21T07:44:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/greencardguys.com\/?p=28148"},"modified":"2026-07-21T12:55:24","modified_gmt":"2026-07-21T12:55:24","slug":"public-charge-rule-2026-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/greencardguys.com\/es\/public-charge-rule-2026-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"Public charge rule 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"28148\" class=\"elementor elementor-28148\" data-elementor-settings=\"{&quot;ha_cmc_init_switcher&quot;:&quot;no&quot;}\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b09c241 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"b09c241\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_ha_eqh_enable&quot;:false}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cb79d14 elementor-widget__width-initial ha-has-bg-overlay elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"cb79d14\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div data-block-id=\"block-dc2f3046-28e2-4226-9ecf-61cd74daffb1\"><div data-block-id=\"block-1595ef4f-9cef-4e6e-b2d4-97c19f8d8c1f\"><div data-block-id=\"block-7d2c0bdb-e10c-4f8e-a6b4-d75926923ad9\"><div data-block-id=\"block-e3c27260-b61e-460c-8e6e-e663d1e35dc6\"><p>The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) finalized a new public charge rule that takes effect on <strong>September 18, 2026<\/strong>. The rule significantly broadens an immigration officer&#8217;s discretion to deny green cards or admission to the U.S. if the applicant is deemed likely to become primarily dependent on government assistance.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-127c6d8 elementor-widget-mobile__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"127c6d8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">What is the public charge rule?<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d1493bc elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"d1493bc\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div data-block-id=\"block-1c442584-043f-4125-b9cf-963d1174abf0\"><span style=\"letter-spacing: -0.8px;\">Under U.S. immigration law, non-citizens can be denied permanent residency (a green card) or admission into the country if the government determines they are likely at any time to become a &#8220;public charge.&#8221; <\/span><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3a3f476 elementor-widget-mobile__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"3a3f476\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">The 2026 Rule Changes<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f4b3c88 elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"f4b3c88\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The new rule, which rescinds the Biden-era 2022 regulation, establishes a broader, more subjective, case-by-case standard for public charge inadmissibility.<\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><ul><li data-block-id=\"block-1c442584-043f-4125-b9cf-963d1174abf0\"><strong>Expanded Discretion:<\/strong> Immigration officers are given wider authority to evaluate an applicant&#8217;s likelihood of relying on government support. Officers can consider multiple factors\u2014including health conditions, age, financial status, education, and skills\u2014to determine if an individual will require public assistance.<\/li><\/ul><div>\u00a0<\/div><ul><li data-block-id=\"block-1c442584-043f-4125-b9cf-963d1174abf0\"><strong>Benefits Under Consideration:<\/strong> Historically, officers heavily weighed primarily cash assistance (such as TANF or SSI). The expanded policy gives officers greater flexibility to factor in the use of public programs, which may include Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP\/food stamps), housing assistance (Section 8), and government-funded healthcare (Medicaid, though specific exceptions apply for emergency services, children, and pregnant women).<\/li><\/ul><div>\u00a0<\/div><ul><li data-block-id=\"block-1c442584-043f-4125-b9cf-963d1174abf0\"><strong>Application Dates:<\/strong> The new criteria apply to any application for admission or adjustment of status (Form I-485) postmarked or submitted electronically on or after <strong>September 18, 2026<\/strong>. Applications filed before this date are evaluated under the previous 2022 framework.<\/li><\/ul><div>\u00a0<\/div><p>Public Charge only applies to certain immigration applications. It only applies in some applications to get a green card (lawful permanent residence) or to immigrate to the United States.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fe702e3 elementor-widget__width-inherit elementor-widget elementor-widget-toggle\" data-id=\"fe702e3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"toggle.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toggle\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toggle-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h6 id=\"elementor-tab-title-2661\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"1\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-2661\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon elementor-toggle-icon-right\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-angle-down\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened\"><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-toggle-title\" tabindex=\"0\">Who is exempt from this new public charge rule?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/h6>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-2661\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"1\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-2661\"><div data-block-id=\"block-1c442584-043f-4125-b9cf-963d1174abf0\"><div data-block-id=\"block-1c442584-043f-4125-b9cf-963d1174abf0\">Certain categories of immigrants are generally exempt from the public charge rule. These primarily include refugees, asylees, survivors of domestic violence (VAWA self-petitioners), Special Immigrant Juveniles (SIJ), and certain T or U nonimmigrant visa applicants.\u00a0<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toggle-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h6 id=\"elementor-tab-title-2662\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"2\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-2662\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon elementor-toggle-icon-right\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-angle-down\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened\"><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-toggle-title\" tabindex=\"0\">What will change with public charge rule?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/h6>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-2662\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"2\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-2662\"><div data-block-id=\"block-1c442584-043f-4125-b9cf-963d1174abf0\"><p>USCIS\u2019s explanation for the recission states that it is removing the limitations on which public benefits may be considered in a public charge inadmissibility determination and is moving away from a bright-line test of primary dependence on a cash benefit.\u00a0<\/p><p>The rescission will allow officers to consider the use of public benefits, including non-cash benefits that are means-tested.\u00a0<\/p><p>USCIS states that public charge determinations will be based on an evaluation of the totality of the circumstances that includes the mandatory statutory factors in INA 212(a)(4)(B) (age, health, family status, assets, resources, and financial status and education and skills), the receipt of means-tested benefits and \u201cany other individualized case-specific factors relevant to a [noncitizen\u2019s] case\u201d as well as, \u201cany empirical data relevant to a [noncitizen\u2019s] self-sufficiency.\u201d<\/p><p>The rule states that any public charge bond posted on or after September 18, 2026 will be breached if the bonded person receives any means-tested benefit prior to death, permanent departure, or naturalization, \u201cor is otherwise noncompliant with any conditions of the public charge bond.\u201d<\/p><p>USCIS is expected to issue new guidance explaining how they will assess public charge after our current rule is rescinded. We expect them to consider many public benefits and health programs as negative factors, in addition to other factors like size of family and age.<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0c3ab25 elementor-widget__width-initial ha-has-bg-overlay elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"0c3ab25\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div data-block-id=\"block-dc2f3046-28e2-4226-9ecf-61cd74daffb1\"><div data-block-id=\"block-1595ef4f-9cef-4e6e-b2d4-97c19f8d8c1f\"><div data-block-id=\"block-7d2c0bdb-e10c-4f8e-a6b4-d75926923ad9\"><div data-block-id=\"block-e3c27260-b61e-460c-8e6e-e663d1e35dc6\"><p><strong>Consular processing warning:<\/strong>\u00a0Those who will be leaving the United States to apply for their green cards abroad, at a U.S. consulate or embassy, should be aware that the Department of State has already issued new guidance that will likely expand the number of individuals who are denied a visa for public charge. If you will be leaving the United States to consular process, contact our legal team before leaving the country.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-39c0a23 elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"39c0a23\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div data-block-id=\"block-1c442584-043f-4125-b9cf-963d1174abf0\">Additionally, in early 2026 the Department of State announced a pause on visa issuance for individuals from 75 countries (full list below) based on purported public charge concerns that went into effect on January 21, 2026. <br \/><br \/>The pause (referred to by some as a \u201ctravel ban\u201d) does not involve an individualized assessment, but rather a blanket ban on individuals from these countries based on the government\u2019s view that people from these countries are at \u201chigh risk\u201d of becoming a public charge. <br \/><br \/>Applicants for a green card who are consular processing abroad and who are from one of the affected countries may still be interviewed at the consulate but will not be issued a visa while the ban remains in effect.\u00a0<br \/><strong><br \/>This visa ban does\u00a0<u>not\u00a0<\/u>apply to those who are applying for green cards at USCIS within the United States, it only applies to those who are applying for a green card and will attend their green card interview at a U.S. consulate or embassy abroad.<\/strong><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-268fd8b elementor-widget__width-inherit elementor-widget elementor-widget-toggle\" data-id=\"268fd8b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"toggle.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toggle\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toggle-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h6 id=\"elementor-tab-title-4041\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"1\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-4041\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon elementor-toggle-icon-right\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-angle-down\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened\"><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-toggle-title\" tabindex=\"0\">List of countries affected by this visa ban:<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/h6>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-4041\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"1\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-4041\"><p data-path-to-node=\"6,0,0\"><b data-path-to-node=\"6,0,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">A \u2013 B:<\/b> Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Bhutan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Burma<\/p><p data-path-to-node=\"6,1,0\"><b data-path-to-node=\"6,1,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\"><br \/>C \u2013 G:<\/b> Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Colombia, Cote d\u2019Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominica, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, The Gambia, Georgia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea<\/p><p data-path-to-node=\"6,2,0\"><b data-path-to-node=\"6,2,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">H \u2013 L:<\/b> Haiti, Iran, Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kuwait, Kyrgyz Republic, Laos, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya<\/p><p data-path-to-node=\"6,3,0\"><b data-path-to-node=\"6,3,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">M \u2013 R:<\/b> Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, North Macedonia,\u202fPakistan, Republic of the Congo, Russia, Rwanda<\/p><p data-path-to-node=\"6,4,0\"><b data-path-to-node=\"6,4,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">S \u2013 Z:<\/b> Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, and Yemen.\u202f\u00a0<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5f0a834 elementor-widget-mobile__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"5f0a834\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Stay tuned.<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-13941c7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"13941c7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>We will host a webinar this Friday July 24, 2026. Register for free. Select Public charge as the topic.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-67e30ac elementor-align-center elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"67e30ac\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-button-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-button elementor-button-link elementor-size-sm\" href=\"https:\/\/forms.clickup.com\/12604990\/f\/c0nhy-23597\/0GY010ARIT0AGMLVMA\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\">Register Now<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) finalized a new public charge rule that takes effect on September 18, 2026. The rule significantly broadens an immigration officer&#8217;s discretion to deny green cards or admission to the U.S. if the applicant is deemed likely to become primarily dependent on government assistance. What is the public charge rule? [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":28149,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[53],"tags":[16],"class_list":["post-28148","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-immigration-tips","tag-green-card"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/greencardguys.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28148","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/greencardguys.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/greencardguys.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/greencardguys.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/greencardguys.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=28148"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/greencardguys.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28148\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":28173,"href":"https:\/\/greencardguys.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28148\/revisions\/28173"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/greencardguys.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/28149"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/greencardguys.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=28148"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/greencardguys.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=28148"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/greencardguys.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=28148"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}