New US Green Card Policy Introduced, Major Changes Announced for Immigrants
Islamabad (Special Correspondent) – The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced a new policy regarding the process for obtaining permanent residency, commonly known as a Green Card.
The Bureau of Immigration and Overseas Employment Pakistan has released key points of the updated US immigration policy, under which significant changes have been introduced to the application process.
Under the new policy, immigrants will now be required to leave the United States and apply for a Green Card through a US embassy or consulate abroad. Critics say the move could lead to prolonged family separation and visa processing delays.
According to the policy, the process of adjustment of status within the United States has been significantly restricted, and Green Card adjustment inside the country will now only be allowed under exceptional circumstances. The change is being described as a major shift in the Green Card application system.
The policy memorandum states that individuals residing in the United States on temporary visas — including students, tourists, and temporary workers — will generally have to apply for permanent residency through “consular processing,” which will be supervised by the US Department of State.
The decision effectively closes the previous pathway through which students, temporary workers, or visitors on tourist visas could apply for permanent residency while remaining in the United States.
The memo further states that applications considered beneficial to the economy or in the national interest may still be processed within the United States, while other applicants will be referred abroad for consular processing.
