United States government has announced a new immigration policy requiring most foreign nationals seeking permanent residency to return to their home countries to complete their green card applications.
Gatekeepers News reports that according to the new directive issued by the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), immigrants currently living in the United States on temporary visas will no longer be allowed to adjust their status from within the country except under what authorities described as “extraordinary circumstances.”
The policy, introduced under President Donald Trump’s administration, marks a major shift in America’s immigration process and is expected to affect students, tourists, temporary workers and other non-immigrant visa holders already residing in the US.
USCIS said the decision was aimed at restoring what it called the “original intent” of US immigration law by ensuring that people who entered the country temporarily leave once their authorised stay expires.
“We’re returning to the original intent of the law to ensure aliens navigate our nation’s immigration system properly,” the agency said in a statement.
Under the previous system, many immigrants legally living in the US could apply for adjustment of status without leaving the country, especially through family sponsorship, employment or marriage to US citizens. Immigration lawyers say the new rule could affect hundreds of thousands of applicants yearly.
US authorities said applications would now largely be processed through American embassies and consulates in applicants’ home countries under the supervision of the US Department of State.
The policy has already sparked criticism from immigration advocates and legal experts, who warned that it could separate families, worsen visa backlogs and create uncertainty for immigrants already living and working legally in the country.
