WASHINGTON: The Trump administration has announced a major change to US immigration policy that will require many foreigners living in the United States to leave the country and apply for green cards from abroad.
The new guidance issued by US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) affects temporary visa holders, including students, workers and tourists seeking lawful permanent residency in the United States.
For decades, many foreign nationals legally residing in the US — including spouses of American citizens, refugees, asylum seekers and skilled workers — were allowed to complete the green card process without leaving the country.
Under the revised policy, applicants will generally have to return to their home countries to apply unless they qualify for “extraordinary circumstances” or are deemed to provide an “economic benefit” or serve the “national interest,” according to USCIS.
The agency described the move as a return to the “original intent of the law” and said it aimed to close what it called a loophole in the immigration system.
Serious hardship
Immigration lawyers and humanitarian organisations warned the decision could create serious hardship for families and foreign workers already living in the US.
Critics argued the policy may particularly affect applicants from countries facing visa restrictions, embassy closures or long processing delays.
Legal experts said the measure could lead to prolonged family separations and increase uncertainty for thousands of immigrants whose applications are already under process.
According to former US immigration officials, nearly 600,000 people already living in the United States apply for green cards annually.
USCIS has not yet announced when the policy will formally take effect or whether it will apply retroactively to pending cases.
