UPDATE: USCIS Announces Public Charge Rule Will Be Implemented Nationwide

gavel-3577254_1920

The public charge rule is back. On September 11, 2020, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit issued a decision that allows the Department of Homeland Security to resume enforcement of the Public Charge Ground of Inadmissibility final rule on a nationwide basis, including in New York, Connecticut, and Vermont.

The court “stayed” or suspended the grant of a preliminary injunction issued on July 29, 2020 by the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, meaning that the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) can now require Form I-944 in all jurisdictions, and continue to enforce the public charge rule nationwide.


Why the ruling?

The appellate court ruling comes after the Department of Homeland Security appealed the July 29th preliminary injunction preventing the enforcement of the public charge rule to residents of New York, Connecticut, and Vermont. The government asked the court to “stay” or suspend the preliminary injunction, pending resolution of the appeal before the courts.

A three judge panel ruled in favor of the government finding that they were likely to succeed on the merits of the case and in any event the judges said that it was doubtful that the district court had jurisdiction to issue the preliminary injunction in the first place, given that the court of appeals was considering the issues raised by the public charge rule.

What does this mean for applicants?

Pursuant to the appellate court’s order, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will resume enforcement and implementation of the Public Charge Grounds Final Rule nationwide. The government is no longer prevented from enforcing the rule during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

USCIS has stated on their webpage that they will apply the public charge final rule to all applications and petitions postmarked or submitted electronically on or after Feb. 24, 2020, including pending applications and petitions. For applications or petitions sent by commercial courier (for example, UPS, FedEx, or DHL), USCIS will use the date on the courier receipt as the postmark date.

USCIS will not re-adjudicate any applications and petitions that were approved following the issuance of the July 29, 2020, injunction continuing until the date of the notice (September 22, 2020).

Green Card Applications Filed After February 24, 2020

If you filed your Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, after Feb. 24, 2020, you may be required to file Form I-944, Declaration of Self-Sufficiency.

If USCIS receives a Form I-485 before Oct. 13, 2020, that does not have all required forms and evidence, USCIS will request any missing forms and evidence.

After Oct. 13, 2020, USCIS will reject a Form I-485 that does not include the required forms and evidence with Form I-485 at the time of filing, including Form I-944.

USCIS will also issue a request for evidence if any evidence is missing for Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker; Form I-129CW, Petition for a CNMI-Only Nonimmigrant Transitional Worker; Form I-539, Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status; and Form I-539A, Supplemental Information for Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status.

Summary of Court Actions

On July 29, 2020, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York (SDNY), in State of New York, et al. v. DHS, et al. and Make the Road NY et al. v. Cuccinelli, et al., enjoined DHS from enforcing, applying, implementing, or treating as effective the public charge rule during a declared national health emergency. The decision was issued during the COVID-19 outbreak. (84 FR 41292, Aug. 14, 2019, final rule; as amended by 84 FR 52357, Oct. 2, 2019, final rule correction.)

On July 30, 2020, USCIS announced that it would apply the 1999 public charge guidance when adjudicating any application for adjustment of status on or after July 29, 2020, and while the injunction was in place. USCIS also announced that it would use the regulations that were in place before the public charge final rule was implemented on Feb. 24, 2020, to adjudicate applications and petitions for extension of nonimmigrant stay and change of nonimmigrant status (that is, we would not apply the public benefit condition while the injunction remained in place).

On Aug. 12, 2020, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, in State of New York, et al. v. DHS, et al. and Make the Road NY et al. v. Cuccinelli, granted a temporary stay of the July 29, 2020, nationwide injunction in all states outside of the Second Circuit (that is, all states except New York, Connecticut and Vermont).

On Sept. 11, 2020, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, in State of New York, et al. v. DHS, et al. and Make the Road NY et al. v. Cuccinelli, granted a full stay of the July 29, 2020, injunction pending the government’s appeal. This full stay allows DHS/USCIS  to resume implementing the public charge final rule nationwide, including in New York, Connecticut and Vermont.


Helpful Links


Questions? If you have immigration questions and would like to schedule a consultation, please call 619-819-9204 or text 619-483-4549. Our toll free number is 866-488-1554.


JOIN OUR NEW FACEBOOK GROUP

Need more immigration updates? We have created a new facebook group to address the impact of the new executive order and other changing developments related to COVID-19. Follow us there.

For other COVID 19 related immigration updates please visit our Immigration and COVID-19 Resource Center here.