The Trump administration has introduced major changes to the Green Card process in the United States.
These changes could affect millions of foreign nationals, including students, workers, and tourists living in the country on temporary visas.
Under the new rules, people who entered the US on visas such as student, tourist, or work visas may no longer be allowed to complete their Green Card process while staying inside the country.
Instead, they may need to return to their home country to apply through a US embassy.
This is a major shift from a system that has been followed for nearly 50 years. Many immigrants are now concerned about how this will impact their future plans in the United States.
Who Will Be Affected by the New Rule?
The new rule mainly impacts people on temporary visas such as F-1 student visas, H-1B or L-1 work visas, and B1/B2 tourist visas.
Earlier, these visa holders could apply for a Green Card without leaving the US through a process called “adjustment of status.” This allowed them to stay in the country while their application was being processed.
Now, most applicants may have to go back to their home countries and apply through a US embassy instead.
However, some exceptions may still apply, such as cases involving spouses of US citizens or special humanitarian situations. The exact details of these exceptions are still not fully clear.
Why Has This Change Been Introduced?
According to the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), the aim of this change is to prevent misuse of the immigration system.
Officials believe that some people stay in the US even after their Green Card applications are denied, especially when applying from within the country.
By requiring applicants to apply from abroad, the government hopes to reduce this risk.
The administration also says this move will reduce the workload on immigration offices inside the US. This will allow them to focus more on urgent cases such as human trafficking victims and other priority immigration issues.
Overall, the government says the change is meant to restore the original purpose of the law and close existing loopholes in the system.
