The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced on August 18, 2026 that they are issuing updated guidance in the USCIS Policy Manual explaining how the agency will determine whether an alien applying for adjustment of status to that of a lawful permanent resident is likely at any time to become a public charge.
On July 16, 2026, DHS announced a final rule that rescinds the 2022 Biden-era public charge inadmissibility regulations. The final rule was formally published in the Federal Register on July 20, 2026, and goes into effect on Sept. 18, 2026. The updated guidance aligns with congressional intent that aliens in the United States be self-sufficient and not dependent on taxpayer-funded government benefits.
This updated guidance explains which categories of aliens are subject to the public charge inadmissibility ground and which categories Congress has made exempt. The guidance describes key concepts, the factors that are considered in public charge inadmissibility determinations, and what evidence will be considered. It also explains the public charge bonds process.
To read more, click here: https://www.uscis.gov/newsroom/alerts/uscis-issues-guidance-on-making-public-charge-inadmissibility-determination