Washington: The US government has issued a new policy on immigration. It fundamentally changes how foreign nationals on temporary visas can apply for permanent residency or a Green Card.
According to the new policy, issued by US Citizenship and Immigration Services, ‘Adjustment of Status’ has been reclassified as an “extraordinary form of relief”. It means it will only be approved in limited and exceptional cases.
This policy will affect anyone in the US on a temporary, non-immigrant visa planning to apply for Green Card, reported NDTV.
Under the new rules, most people must return to their home country to apply, rather than doing the same from within the US.
Earlier, many foreign na
tionals already living in the US on student, tourist or work visas could apply for a Green Card without leaving. This process was referred to as Adjustment of Status.
“US Citizenship and Immigration Services today announced a new policy memo reiterating the fact that, consistent with long-standing immigration law and immigration court decisions, aliens seeking adjustment of status must do so through consular processing via the Department of State outside of the country. Officers are directed to consider all relevant factors and information on a case-by-case basis when determining whether an alien warrants this extraordinary form of relief,” a release from the US Citizenship and Immigration Services, said, reported NDTV.
A social media post on X from the official handle of Homeland Security, reads: “An alien who is in the U.S. temporarily and wants a Green Card must return to their home country to apply. This policy allows our immigration system to function as the law intended instead of incentivizing loopholes. The era of abusing our nation’s immigration system is over.”