Want a Green Card? You can’t get it while staying in the US, rules have changed.

New Delhi: Donald Trump’s government has dealt a major blow to thousands of Indian citizens dreaming of permanent residency in the US. The US government has implemented a new rule requiring foreign nationals to leave the US first to obtain a Green Card.

US Citizenship and Immigration Services announced this new rule on Friday. Foreign nationals will no longer be allowed to stay in the US during the entire process to obtain a Green Card. Previously, people could stay in the US on temporary visas until they received their Green Card. But now that will no longer be possible. They will have to leave the US and return to their home country and apply for an immigrant visa from there.

USCIS spokesperson Jack Kahler, announcing the decision, said, “From now on, foreign nationals who are temporarily in the US and want a Green Card will be required to return to their home country to apply, unless there are exceptional circumstances.”

Students and H-1B visa holders will be directly impacted.
This decision by the US could have the greatest impact on international students, H-1B work visa holders, and tourists living in the US. These individuals were hoping to change their legal status to a green card without leaving the US.

Spokesman Jack Kahler further stated, “We are returning to the true purpose of the law. We want foreign nationals to properly comply with our country’s immigration system.”

According to the new policy memo, changing status while in the US will no longer be a common practice, but will be treated as an “extraordinary relief.” Immigration officials have been instructed to investigate each case individually and very thoroughly.

“The era of abuse of the immigration system is over.”
The US Department of Homeland Security also responded to this decision on social media. The department tweeted, “Foreign nationals temporarily residing in the US and wishing to obtain a green card will be required to return to their home countries to apply.” This policy will help our immigration system function lawfully. It will prevent the tendency to exploit loopholes and loopholes. The era of abuse of our country’s immigration system is now completely over.

Why is this a big blow for Indians?
The new rule poses a greater challenge for Indian immigrants. According to statistics, in fiscal year 2024, 49,700 immigrants of Indian origin became US citizens through the Green Card process. Indian citizens were the second largest group in this list, after Mexicans. Indians accounted for 6.1 percent of those granted US citizenship.