WASHINGTON: A new immigration policy announced by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services has introduced significant changes to the process of obtaining permanent residency, commonly known as a Green Card.
According to the updated guidelines, most applicants will now be required to apply from outside the United States through U.S. embassies or consulates. This shift limits the previously available option of applying for permanent residency while remaining inside the country, a process known as adjustment of status.
Under the revised policy, individuals already in the U.S. on temporary visas—such as students, tourists, and temporary workers—will generally need to leave the country and complete their applications through consular processing, which is overseen by the U.S. Department of State.
Officials have indicated that in-country processing will now be allowed only in exceptional cases, such as applications deemed beneficial to the national interest or economy. This marks a significant tightening of immigration procedures and a shift toward stricter oversight.
Critics argue that the changes could lead to longer processing times, visa delays, and prolonged family separations, as applicants may be required to remain abroad while their cases are reviewed.
The policy is being described as a major development in U.S. immigration rules, closing a pathway that many applicants previously used to transition from temporary visas to permanent residency without leaving the country.
