New Document Requirements Due to Public Charge Rule

Due to the public charge rule that went into effect on February 24, 2020, applicants for adjustment of status will be asked to provide additional documents about their finances. This is due to a new filing requirements, Form I-944, which requests this information.

As far as we can tell, here are the additional documents required:

• Credit report or evidence that you cannot obtain a credit report;
• Credit score (FICO score);
• Evidence of health insurance and the health insurance policy which lays out details about your deductible. In the event that you’ve no health insurance, you can show that you’ve plans to enroll in the near future;
• 12 months of bank statements for checking accounts, savings accounts stock options, and any other assets from the beneficiary;
• Copy of college degrees, school-leaving certificates, diplomas and any other occupational certificates.

In the event that you are unable to provide these documents, the USCIS may issue you a ‘Request for Initial Evidence’ and if they deem that you are a public charge, require you to post a hefty bond in order to complete processing of your information.

Note that the public charge rule only applies to persons seeking green cards through a family member, employer and/or the diversity visa process.