(UTV|COLOMBO) – US President Donald Trump’s administration is to make it more difficult for poorer legal migrants to extend their visas or gain permanent resident status (a green card).
The rule targets migrants who rely on public benefits, such as food aid or public housing, for more than a year.
Their applications will be rejected if the government decides they are likely to rely on public assistance in future.
The rule change would reinforce “ideals of self-sufficiency,” officials said.
The new regulation, known as a “public charge rule”, was published in the Federal Register on Monday and will take effect on 15 October.
Who will be affected?
Immigrants who are already permanent residents in the US are unlikely to be affected by the rule change.
It also does not apply to refugees and asylum applicants.
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