Beginning on September 18, the US will tighten its green card regulations with a more stringent public charge test.
Starting on September 18, 2026, the US will tighten its regulations on public charges. Here are the revisions to Form I-485 and the implications of the new DHS policy for Indian Green Card applicants.
The United States is once again strengthening immigration screening. The Biden-era public charge rule will be eliminated by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on September 18, 2026, allowing immigration officers more power to determine whether an applicant would become dependent on government assistance.
Financial self-sufficiency will once again be scrutinized more closely during the application process for foreign citizens seeking a US Green Card through adjustment of status.
What's Changing?
US immigration authorities may refuse a visa, admission, or status adjustment under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) if they believe an applicant is likely to become a public charge.
The 2022 rule restricted the public benefits that immigration officers might take into account. On September 18, USCIS will lift that restriction, enabling its officials to consider all pertinent facts rather than just a limited list of variables when making decisions in each case.
This indicates a return to a more stringent reading of the public charge clause, which has changed over the past few years due to changes in US governments.
What Indian Applicants Should Know
Indian nationals who currently reside in the US and intend to apply for permanent residency should carefully review the new regulations. Officers will have more latitude in assessing an applicant's financial status and overall suitability, even though the public charge test is not new.
Additionally, applicants should be ready for any revisions to their papers.
A revised Form I-485 (Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status) will be made available by USCIS.
Forms that are older and submitted or postmarked after September 18, 2026, will not be accepted.
The new form should be used by anyone intending to file near the implementation date.
Why This Is Important
Stricter and more lenient interpretations of the public charge criterion have alternated frequently in US immigration policy. This most recent action indicates that judgments on permanent residence are once more heavily influenced by financial independence.
Careful financial document preparation will be more important than ever for many Indian professionals, students making the move to the workforce, and family-based applicants.
Travunited Take
If you want to apply for a US Green Card, we think you should pay attention to this update. To minimize needless delays, I would utilize the new Form I-485, double-check every document, and refrain from filing right before the deadline.
