USCIS Releases Fact Sheet on ‘Public Charge’ Determinations

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has released a fact sheet (PDF) on public charge determinations. The agency noted that although an individual who is likely at any time to become a public charge is inadmissible to the U.S. and ineligible to become a legal permanent resident, receiving public benefits does not automatically make an individual a public charge. The fact sheet outlines benefits that could make a noncitizen inadmissible as a public charge if other criteria are met, and also lists benefits that are for special purposes rather than income maintenance and therefore not subject to public charge consideration, such as Medicaid, Food Stamps, the Children’s Health Insurance Program, foster care and adoption assistance, job training programs, and emergency disaster relief.