Donald Trump will make foreigners in the US go home to apply for a Green Card

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has announced a major proposed change to the green card application process that could require many foreign nationals living legally in the United States to leave the country before applying for permanent residency.

Under the surprise new move, outlined by the Trump administration, people currently in the US on temporary visas or other legal statuses may no longer be able to complete the green card process from within the country, except in what officials described as ‘extraordinary circumstances’.

For decades, many immigrants, including spouses of US citizens, international students, workers, refugees and asylum seekers, have typically been allowed to apply for lawful permanent residency while remaining in the United States throughout the process.

The proposed changes have prompted concern among immigration advocates and legal experts, who say the move could create uncertainty for families and individuals already living, studying or working in the country legally.

According to USCIS, (US Customs and Immigrations Service) applications requiring exceptions would be reviewed on a case-by-case basis by immigration officers, who would determine whether applicants qualify to remain in the US during the process.

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The announcement comes amid wider debate over immigration policy in the United States ahead of the upcoming presidential election campaign, with immigration expected to remain one of the central political issues.

In a statement outlining the proposed changes, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services said temporary visa programmes were intended for short-term stays and were not designed to serve as a pathway towards permanent residency.

The agency said individuals travelling to the United States on student, tourist or temporary work visas are generally expected to return to their home countries once their authorised stay ends.

The move is being viewed by immigration analysts as part of a broader tightening of legal immigration rules under the administration of Donald Trump, with the changes potentially affecting foreign nationals already living in the US as well as future applicants hoping to relocate there legally.

*This article was originally published on Extra.ie.