IMPORTANT UPDATE — MARCH 9, 2021: Both the new Department of Homeland Security (DHS) public charge rule and the Department of State (DOS) public charge policy are currently not in effect. The DHS rule was halted on March 9, 2021, while the DOS policy was paused indefinitely on July 29, 2020. This page reflects those policies, which initially took effect on Feb. 24, 2020, and will not be immediately updated according to the previous, longstanding guidance issued in 1999. Learn more.
The health insurance requirement is still relatively new, so clear guidelines haven’t yet been established. Green card applicants can purchase coverage prior to their consular interview, although some legal experts believe it is enough to simply identify a suitable policy and demonstrate they have the money set aside to pay for it. Learn more here about the health insurance requirement and acceptable forms of coverage.