The US government has reversed a decision announced on May 22 that would have required applicants for permanent resident status to complete the process while in the country, following a wave of protests. The Department of Homeland Security, which oversees immigration, said the new policy would not apply to all green card applicants but would be applied on a “case-by-case basis.”
“It was simply a reminder to employees to use their discretion when deciding whether or not to require candidates to leave the U.S. in order to submit their application from abroad,” the announcement said.
Just last week, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that a foreign national temporarily residing in the United States who wishes to obtain a green card must return to his or her country of origin to apply, except in exceptional circumstances.
“Limited-term visa holders, such as students, seasonal workers, or tourists, are in the United States for a short period of time and for a specific reason. The system is designed so that they leave when their stay ends. Their stay cannot serve as the first step towards a green card,” explained USCIS spokesman Zach Kaler.
Many immigrant rights groups and law firms expressed surprise at the move, which has caused confusion among green card applicants. Democratic Representative Chai Garcia called the new policy “unreasonable and cruel.”
“It will force thousands of legal immigrants, such as spouses of American citizens, to leave their homes, families, and jobs for weeks or even months to obtain a green card outside the United States,” he explained.
According to the Washington Post, the United States issues over a million green cards each year. To date, more than half of the applicants are already on American soil.