Despite widespread opposition, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) today released its final version of the public charge rule, a sweeping regulation that aims to restrict legal immigration. Once in effect, the new policy could impact more than 1 million green card and visa applicants within the United States each year, plus millions more abroad.
The new rule is scheduled to take effect in 60 days, on Oct. 15, 2019. At that time, DHS could begin denying more than half of all marriage-based green card applications.
Boundless has prepared the short summary below to help you understand how the public charge rule could affect you. Here’s what we’ll cover:
But here’s the bottom line: If you’re planning to apply for a green card, it’s important to file your paperwork right away to help ensure your application is handled under the existing standards before they change significantly.
Boundless remains dedicated to helping you maximize your chance of obtaining a marriage-based green card. We make it affordable to engage an experienced immigration attorney who reviews your entire application and answers your legal questions before you file with the government. Learn more about how we can help, or check your eligibility through Boundless.
What is the “public charge” rule?
Briefly, the new public charge rule dramatically expands the U.S. government’s ability to deny green cards to anyone who uses government benefits or has used at least one public benefit in the past. It also means green cards can be denied to anyone deemed likely to rely on such benefits in the future, based on factors such as age, family size, health, and English proficiency.
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