State Department Decides Not to Implement 2019 Public Charge Restrictions

On September 5, 2023, the US Department of State (DOS) published a final rule indicating that they decided not to finalize the regulatory amendments made by the more restrictive 2019 interim final rule entitled “Visas: Ineligibility Based on Public Charge Grounds” published in the Federal Register on October 11, 2019 (“2019 IFR”) as it did not meet current policy aims.  In declining to finalize the regulatory amendments made in 2019, the DOS will continue to apply the guidance from the Foreign Affairs Manual (“FAM”) and the regulatory language in use prior to 2019. The final rule took effect on October 5, 2023.

Link:

• US State Department Final Rule: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2023/09/05/2023-19047/visas-ineligibility-based-on-public-charge