India, Nov. 8 -- The US State Department has ordered embassies worldwide to enforce sweeping new visa screening rules under the "public charge" provision of immigration law.

The 'public charge' rule under US immigration policy allows officials to deny visas or permanent residency to any applicant who might become a 'public charge', implying that they might be dependent on government assistance.

This move revives and seeks to expand the standards set during the first term of President Donald Trump. These had been relaxed during former president Joe Biden's tenure before Trump returned to power and took over in early 2025.

"Self-sufficiency has been a longstanding principle of U.S. immigration policy. and the public charge ground of inad...