Green Card Update: Applicants Face New Questions After Major DHS Change
Summary
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has introduced a new policy change impacting immigrants applying for green cards. The policy limits the use of "Adjustment of Status" (AOS), which allows certain immigrants to apply for permanent residency while staying in the U.S., suggesting many applicants should instead complete processing in their home countries. This change has caused confusion among immigrants and lawyers, with inconsistent application and new questions during green card interviews.Key Facts
- The Trump administration announced a new policy restricting the use of Adjustment of Status for green card applicants.
- Adjustment of Status allows some immigrants to apply for a green card without leaving the U.S.
- The new policy states that most applicants not claiming family ties should return to their home countries for green card processing.
- USCIS clarified that H-1B visa holders providing economic benefits are mostly exempt from this change.
- Immigration attorneys report mixed experiences during green card interviews, with some applicants being asked why they did not apply from abroad.
- The American Immigration Lawyers Association noted new questions are being asked even in cases traditionally exempt from the policy.
- The sudden policy rollout caused confusion among USCIS officers and immigration applicants.
- The memo represents a shift from a decades-old practice that allowed applicants to wait in the U.S. for their green cards without interrupting their lives.
Read the Full Article
This is a fact-based summary from The Actual News. Click below to read the complete story directly from the original source.