India, Aug. 19 -- US Citizenship and Immigration Services has issued new guidance explaining how officers will assess whether green card applicants are likely to become a "public charge," with broader consideration of government benefits set to take effect on September 18, 2026.

The guidance follows a final rule from the Department of Homeland Security that rescinds the Biden-era 2022 public charge regulations. The new framework will apply to Form I-485 applications subject to the public charge ground of inadmissibility that are postmarked or submitted electronically on or after September 18.

USCIS said officers will assess whether an applicant is likely to become a public charge by considering the five factors specified by Congress: ag...