Trump to force foreigners to apply for a green card abroad-but those who provide 'economic benefit' or serve 'national interest' may be able to stay | Fortune

Foreign nationals with temporary status in the U.S. who want to apply for lawful permanent residence must return home and apply there, except in extraordinary circumstances. The change reverses a long-standing policy that allowed people with legal status to complete the entire green card process in the United States, including those married to U.S. citizens, holders of work and student visas, and refugees or asylum seekers. USCIS said nonimmigrants are intended to enter for a short, specific purpose and should leave when their visit ends, rather than using the visit as the first step toward a green card. The policy is expected to make legal immigration harder for people already in the U.S. and those hoping to come.

"Foreigners in the U.S. who want a green card will need to leave and apply in their home country, the Trump administration announced Friday, in a surprise change to a longstanding policy that sowed confusion and concern among aid groups, immigration lawyers and immigrants."

"The announcement from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services said foreigners who are in the U.S. temporarily and who want to apply to become lawful permanent residents, or green card holders, have to return home and apply there, except in "extraordinary circumstances." USCIS officers would decide whether applicants meet those."

""Nonimmigrants, like students, temporary workers, or people on tourist visas, come to the U.S. for a short time and for a specific purpose. Our system is designed for them to leave when their visit is over. Their visit should not function as the first step in the Green Card process," the agency said in a statement."

""The goal of this policy is very explicit. Senior officials in this administration have said over and over that they want fewer people to get permanent residency because permanent residency is a path to citizenship and they want to block that path for as many people as possible," said Doug Rand, a former senior advisor at USCIS during the Biden administration, who added that about 600,000 people already in the U.S. apply each year for a green card."

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