Suspense crime, Digital Desk : The U.S. government has clarified a crucial and often confusing rule for Green Card applicants, aiming to reduce fear and uncertainty for immigrants seeking to make America their permanent home. The new regulation redefines what it means to be a “public charge,” a designation that can block an individual’s path to lawful permanent residency.

This move directly reverses a controversial 2019 Trump administration policy that had a “chilling effect” on immigrant communities. The previous rule was much broader and penalized applicants for using a wide range of non-cash government benefits, causing many to avoid essential services like healthcare and food assistance for fear of jeopardizing their immigration status.

The updated rule, implemented by the Biden-Harris administration, returns to a more traditional and narrower definition. It provides clear guidance on which benefits will—and, more importantly, will not—be considered when determining if an applicant is likely to become primarily dependent on the government for subsistence.

What Does Not Affect Your Green Card Application?

Under the new policy, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will NOT penalize applicants for using most non-cash benefits. These include:

Healthcare: Medicaid (except for long-term institutionalization), the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and other health insurance subsidies.

Nutrition: Food stamps (SNAP), the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), and school lunch programs.

Housing: Section 8 housing vouchers or other federal housing assistance.

Other Support: COVID-19 relief, unemployment benefits, or child tax credits.

What Still Counts as a “Public Charge”?

The focus is now narrowly on long-term dependency on specific cash-based government assistance. USCIS will primarily consider an applicant a “public charge” only if they are likely to become dependent on:

Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

Cash assistance from the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program

State or local cash-based assistance programs

Long-term institutionalization paid for by the government (e.g., in a nursing home)

According to USCIS Director Ur M. Jaddou, this new rule provides “fair and humane treatment” for noncitizens. The goal is to ensure that immigrants and their families, many of whom are U.S. citizens, are not afraid to access the critical health, nutrition, and housing support they are legally entitled to receive.

This policy change provides much-needed clarity and stability for those navigating the complex U.S. immigration system, marking a significant shift away from the stricter policies of the previous administration.

Read More: Bracing for Impact: US on High Alert as Israel Weighs Strikes on Iranian Nuclear Sites