U.S. Directs Green Card Applicants to Apply from Home

On Friday, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced a new policy directing green card applicants to apply from their home countries, except in extraordinary circumstances.

This shift, part of a broader immigration policy change under President Donald Trump, aims to restore the original intent of U.S. immigration law. The agency's spokesperson, Zach Kahler, explained that this policy will help ensure that aliens navigate the U.S. immigration system properly and reduce the number of migrants who remain in the U.S. illegally.

The policy affects temporary visa holders, including students, tourists, and workers, who are expected to leave the U.S. when their visit is over. The USCIS further stated that this approach will allow them to focus resources on cases involving victims of violent crime and human trafficking.

Additionally, the announcement comes amid a travel ban affecting Nigerian nationals and others from 19 countries, which was introduced in June following security incidents involving Afghan nationals.