A critical date for Green Card applications in ABD is approaching!
In ABD, the new Public Charge assessment period starts on 18 September. In Green Card applications, which also closely concern Turks, financial status and other conditions can be examined more broadly.
A critical date is approaching in the Public Charge regulation that concerns immigration applications in the United States. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will begin implementing new rules regarding Public Charge assessments from September 18, 2026. The new approach will be applied after the regulation that entered into force in 2022 is repealed.
What Does Public Charge Mean?
Public Charge is an inadmissibility ground concerning the likelihood that a person will become predominantly dependent on public assistance in the future under U.S. immigration law. The new system gives immigration officers a broader scope to consider the applicant’s circumstances in this assessment.
How Will Green Card Applications Be Affected?
The regulation is particularly significant for those subject to Public Charge assessments and applying for permanent residence through a status change within the United States. USCIS announced that the new approach will take effect on September 18, 2026, and that a new version of Form I‑485 will also be released on the same date.
Financial Status Will Be Examined More Broadly
In the new assessment, the applicant's income and financial resources will be among the important factors. In addition, factors that must be considered legally, such as the person's age, health status, family structure, assets, resources, education status, and professional skills, can also be evaluated together.
Receiving Public Assistance Is Not Automatic Denial
Having benefited from a specific public assistance under the Public Charge does not, by itself, mean that a Green Card application will be automatically denied. The assessment will be made based on the overall picture of the applicant's likelihood of becoming a public burden in the future. Therefore, a comment that 'everyone who receives assistance will not get a Green Card' would be incorrect.
Important Distinction for Green Card Applications by Marriage
For those applying for a Green Card by marrying an American citizen, the Public Charge rules can also be significant. However, the new regulation is not specific to Green Card applications through marriage. If a marriage-based application is subject to Public Charge assessment, the new rules may apply. Therefore, it would be incorrect to say that 'a new ban is coming for Green Card applications by marriage.',
Turkish Applicants May Also Be Affected
The regulation does not introduce a special measure for Turkish citizens. However, Turkish citizens residing in the United States who apply for a Green Card through a migration category subject to Public Charge assessment may also fall under the new system. In particular, the date September 18 is significant for those preparing a status‑change application via a U.S. citizen spouse.
There Is Also a Change in the I‑485 Form
USCIS announced that on September 18, 2026, it will publish a new version of Form I‑485 and that older versions will be rejected from that date onward. Therefore, those applying for a Green Card from within the United States must pay attention not only to the Public Charge change but also to whether the I‑485 form they use is current.
The 2022 Rules Are Ending
With the new application, the Public Charge Final Rule that DHS enacted in 2022 is being repealed. USCIS also announced that the policy update it released on August 18, 2026, will take effect on September 18. Thus a new period will begin in the Public Charge assessment.
Not Every Immigrant Is Subject to This Rule
Public Charge rules are not applied to all immigration applications. There are certain immigration and humanitarian categories that are exempted by law. Therefore, whether a person will be affected by the new regulation depends not only on their citizenship or whether they are applying for a Green Card, but also on the application category and the relevant legal exemptions.
Before and After 18 September Carries Significance.
The effective date of the new regulation is 18 September 2026. From that date onward, the rules under which new applications subject to Public Charge assessment will be examined will change. In particular, individuals preparing an I‑485 must carefully check the filing date and the current version of the form to be used.
What Does the News Mean for Turks?
The 18 September change does not introduce a special Green Card restriction for Turkish citizens. However, it could alter the way the financial situation, public assistance, and other personal conditions of Turkish applicants under Public Charge are evaluated. Therefore, the regulation is among the immigration developments that must be closely monitored by Turks pursuing the Green Card process in the United States.
Legal Assessment May Vary by File.
How the Public Charge application will affect a single application can vary depending on the person's immigration category, type of application, and personal circumstances. Therefore, a general news item should not be considered to guarantee the outcome of a specific application; especially in complex cases, current USCIS rules and professional immigration law counsel should be taken into account.
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