The Unites States (US) Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced a policy shift on Friday, under which foreigners seeking permanent residency in the country would have to leave the US and apply for immigrant visas from abroad.
According to a policy memorandum issued by the agency, applicants residing in the US on temporary visas, including students, tourists and temporary workers, must now pursue green cards through consular processing overseen by the Department of State.
While the decision curtails the long-standing “adjustment of status” process, it functions as part of President Donald Trump’s effort to restrict legal and illegal immigration pathways.
The USCIS stated that the adjustment of status process inside the country will now be restricted to “extraordinary circumstances” and evaluated on a “case-by-case basis”.
“We’re returning to the original intent of the law to ensure aliens navigate our nation’s immigration system properly,” USCIS spokesperson Zach Kahler said in a statement released with the memorandum.
The directive instructs immigration officers to evaluate whether an applicant’s conduct was “inconsistent” with the purpose of the visa or parole used to enter the country.
Meanwhile, the announcement triggered immediate pushback from immigration advocates and critics. Opponents of the decision warned that the enforcement of this policy could separate families for periods because applicants directed abroad face visa backlogs at American consulates.
Reports and advocacy groups indicated that the shift impacts individuals married to US citizens as well as applicants with children born in the US.
