May 23, 2026, 09:10May 23, 2026, 09:10
According to the US government’s wishes, applications for permanent residence status in the USA should in future be submitted primarily from abroad. Anyone who would like to apply for a so-called green card and thus permanent residence status should generally use the consular procedure in their home country, according to an instruction from the responsible immigration authority. The US government is effectively setting higher hurdles for obtaining a green card.
Previously, vacationers, students or other visitors with limited residence rights were able to apply for a green card in the USA under certain conditions. According to the Washington Post, more than half of the green cards issued each year are based on this process. The prerequisite for this is, among other things, that the intention to stay for a longer period did not exist from the start.
Lawyer: Step affects doctors and business people
“This will affect thousands and thousands of people,” said Elizabeth Goss, an immigrant rights lawyer, to the Washington Post. Goss portrayed the step as an unfounded tightening that was not caused by a safety problem. He meets people who have already been examined by the authorities. “This affects doctors, professors, researchers and managing directors.”
Since President Donald Trump took office, the government has significantly tightened its approach to immigration and migration policy. However, the particularly drastic measures such as entry bans or deposits are primarily aimed at citizens from the Middle East or Africa. (sda/dpa)