Public Charge Rule to Take Effect Feb. 24

Codes and Standards
Published

The Trump Administration’s Public Charge rule, which NAHB fears could impede legal immigration at a time when the residential construction industry is facing a significant labor shortage, is set to take effect on Feb. 24.

The rule was previously on hold after several courts delayed its implementation, but the Supreme Court lifted these stays on Jan. 27. As a result, the rule will commence on Feb. 24 throughout the United States except in Illinois, where a separate court injunction still stands.

Once the rule is enacted, NAHB members with immigrant employees who are seeking permanent residency, a visa change, or extension, or any other change in their immigration status may experience a major increase in paperwork obligations and should expect significant processing delays as the rule’s more onerous requirements are implemented.

Finalized last year, the rule expands the definition of who is considered a “public charge” to include immigrants receiving government assistance through a variety of programs, including housing assistance and food stamps.

The rule’s provisions apply to foreign nationals seeking permanent residence in the U.S. and to nonimmigrant workers seeking to extend their stay or to change their visa status. The Department of State is seeking expedited rulemaking aimed at making the same “public charge” definition at consulates abroad.

More specific information for employers can be found here.

For more information contact Amy Chai at 800-368-5242 x8232.

Subscribe to NAHBNow

Log in or create account to subscribe to notifications of new posts.

Log in to subscribe

Latest from NAHBNow

Trends

Oct 29, 2025

Do Consumers Want Two-Story Foyers?

Nearly a quarter of new homes were built with a two-story foyer in 2024 — a number that has been trending downward over the past eight years. Though the national decline continued, regional patterns were mixed. See where this feature is hot — and where it's not.

Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist (CAPS) | Education

Oct 29, 2025

How to Market to and Design for the Aging-in-Place Client

NAHB will host three webinars (open to members and non-members) in November to teach the technical, business management, and customer service skills necessary to complete modifications for aging-in-place.

View all

Latest Economic News

Economics

Oct 29, 2025

The Fed Cuts amid Partly Cloudy Conditions

With the government shutdown limiting the quantity of economic data available to markets and policymakers, the central bank’s Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) enacted a widely anticipated 25 basis point cut for the short-term federal funds rate.

Economics

Oct 28, 2025

Home Price Growth Slows

Home prices in August grew at the lowest annual rate in over two years, according to the recent release of the S&P Cotality Case-Shiller Home Price Index (seasonally adjusted – SA).

Economics

Oct 27, 2025

Two-Story Foyer Trend Stabilizes in 2024

In 2024, nearly a quarter of new homes were built with a two-story foyer, virtually unchanged from 2023, according to data obtained from the Census Bureau’s Survey of Construction (SOC) and tabulated by NAHB.