US to Require Green Card Applicants to File From Outside the Country

The US administration has ordered most foreign nationals seeking permanent residence, or green cards, to apply from their home countries rather than while in the United States, a move that could reshape how more than 1 million annual residency applications are processed. Those temporarily in the US will now have to return home to pursue an application. The rule also covers people in non-immigrant categories, including students, temporary workers and tourist visa holders. They will no longer be able to file for permanent residency from inside the country under the new policy. The State Department will review applications through consulates abroad. The change shifts a process that previously allowed more than half of green card applications to be submitted from within the United States. The United States grants more than 1 million permanent residency permits each year. The new requirement marks a significant procedural change for applicants already in the country on temporary status.