The United States has announced a new policy tightening Green Card applications and generally requiring people residing in the country to return to their home countries to apply. Based on a press release from United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), applications from within the United States will generally no longer be accepted except in emergencies.
The United States has announced plans to tighten the application process for permanent residency, or a Green Card, indicating that people residing in the country will generally be required to return to their home countries to apply. This is expected to expand restrictions on applications filed from within the United States. The article explains the outline and scope of the new policy based on information released by USCIS.
Under the new application policy, except in emergencies, the aim is said to be reducing cases in which people remain in hiding in the United States and choose to stay unlawfully after their immigration status is denied. It was stated that short-term visitors, students, temporary workers and tourists, among others, should not regard their stay as the first step toward obtaining a Green Card.
As background, USCIS explained that approximately 1 million people submit Green Card applications each year, and nearly half of them are in the United States. The change is positioned as a step toward improving the transparency and oversight of immigration procedures and reducing the risk of unlawful residence.