Nigerians, Others Seeking Green Cards Must Return Home to Apply, Says US
Nigerians and other foreign nationals in the United States of America seeking to change their status from temporary visa holders to permanent residents are now required to return to their home country to apply for a Green Card.
The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), which disclosed this in a statement Friday, noted that the US was returning to its “original intent” immigration law by mandating that non-immigrants apply for permanent residency from their home countries rather than the North American country.
It explained that the policy was intended to ensure that non-immigrants who come to the US for a short time and for a specific purpose return to their home country once the purpose of their visit had been completed.
The policy comes several months after the US imposed a ban across several visa categories on Nigeria and 14 other countries.
The statement noted that aliens seeking adjustment of status would now be required to process their residency applications through US consular offices abroad under the supervision of the United States Department of State.
“We’re returning to the original intent of the law to ensure aliens navigate our nation’s immigration system properly. From now on, an alien who is in the US temporarily and wants a Green Card must return to their home country to apply, except in extraordinary circumstances,” it explained.
USCIS spokesman, Zach Kahler, said the policy would help reduce the number of migrants remaining illegally in the country after unsuccessful residency applications.
Kahler added: “This policy allows our immigration system to function as the law intended instead of incentivising loopholes. When aliens apply from their home country, it reduces the need to find and remove those who decide to slip into the shadows and remain in the U.S. illegally after being denied residency.
“Nonimmigrants, like students, temporary workers, or people on tourist visas, come to the U.S. for a short time and for a specific purpose. Our system is designed for them to leave when their visit is over. Their visit should not function as the first step in the Green Card process.
“The law was written this way for a reason, and despite the fact that it has been ignored for years, following it will help make our system fairer and more efficient.”
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