Rules for obtaining a green card in the US are changing, applicants must leave the US during the process

The administration of US President Donald Trump has announced a major change in immigration policy, requiring people applying for green cards to leave the United States during the application process.

Under a new rule published on Friday by US immigration authorities, applicants for legal permanent residence will have to return to their countries of origin to complete procedures and apply for the relevant visa.

The decision is expected to affect hundreds of thousands of legal immigrants currently living and working in the U.S., as many of them could be forced to leave their families, jobs and communities for months or even years while the process is completed. The process for obtaining a green card is already considered one of the longest and most complicated in the American immigration system.

The US Citizenship and Immigration Services said there would be exceptions only in “exceptional circumstances.” According to US officials, the move is intended to reduce the number of applicants who remain in the US illegally after being denied a permit.

Department of Homeland Security data shows that about 1.4 million people received lawful permanent resident status during fiscal year 2024.
The new rule has sparked strong political backlash and criticism from immigration advocates and Democratic lawmakers. Critics argue that the policy will separate families, hurt the American economy and make the United States less attractive to foreign professionals, researchers and technology specialists.

The Trump administration has placed immigration at the center of its policies since returning to the White House, taking measures to limit illegal immigration and also cracking down on some forms of legal immigration.

Measures taken in recent months include restrictions on asylum, reductions in temporary protection programs and overhauls of work and student visas. The new rule on green cards is expected to face legal challenges in the courts in the coming days.

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