Green card applicants to face more scrutiny linked to healthcare and social services in major change

• Applicants trying to get green cards may find doing so more difficult if they have dependents who are considered public charges — people who are primarily dependant on the government for care.
• Citizenship and Immigration Services issued a memo stating that officers considering applicants should consider whether or not an applicant's relatives have taken advantage of social service programs during their time in the U.
• Green card applicants soon could face greater scrutiny when they are deemed a public charge, which defines a person who is primarily dependent on the government.