public charge rule
Definition
A regulatory policy used by United States immigration authorities to determine if an individual seeking a visa or permanent residency is likely to become primarily dependent on the government for subsistence.
A threshold for immigration admissibility that considers factors such as age, health, income, and family size to evaluate whether a person will rely on public benefits.
Examples
Applying for a green card today feels like passing a marathon where the finish line is constantly moving because of the public charge rule.
The government surely has an imaginative way of deciding who is a burden, as if having a savings account is the new equivalent of becoming a superhero.
If bureaucratic paperwork was a sport, the public charge rule would be the Olympic event that nobody ever signed up to compete in.