"From
now on, a foreigner temporarily staying in the United States and wishing to
obtain a green card must return to their homeland to apply," said USCIS
representative Zach Kahler.
According
to him, exceptions are possible only in "extraordinary
circumstances," the Dunyo news agency reports, citing the US Citizenship
and Immigration Services (USCIS).
The new
rules will affect more than half of applicants and effectively abolish the
practice that has been in force for decades, when foreigners could apply for
permanent residence while in the United States.
The USCIS
emphasized that nonimmigrant visas - including student, work and tourist visas
- require temporary stay.
"Their
visit should not serve as the first step in the process of obtaining a green
card," the ministry said in a statement.
According
to The Washington Post, the United States issues more than 1 million green
cards annually, with a significant portion of applications previously submitted
domestically.
Former
USCIS Senior Adviser Doug Rand said that the purpose of the changes is to limit
access to permanent residence permits.
"A
permanent residence permit is a path to citizenship, and the administration is
trying to block this path as much as possible," he said.
According
to him, about 600,000 people apply for a green card every year while already in
the country.
USCIS did
not specify the date of entry into force of the rules and the procedure for
their application to applications already submitted. Exceptions may be provided
for cases of "national interest" or "economic benefit" to
the United States.
