DHS says most green card applicants can stay during process

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has clarified that most applicants for permanent residency will not be required to leave the country during the process, following confusion over a recent policy announcement. The clarification states that immigration officers will continue to evaluate cases individually, with no broad change to existing rules.

The uncertainty began on May 22 when U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services issued a memorandum stating that individuals temporarily in the United States who want a green card must return to their home country to apply, except in extraordinary circumstances. This announcement was widely interpreted as a significant shift from the long-standing practice known as adjustment of status, which allows hundreds of thousands of applicants each year to remain in the country while their applications are processed.

The initial guidance triggered alarm among immigrants, employers, and immigration attorneys, who expressed concerns about potential family separations, prolonged processing times, and the disruption of lives and careers. In response to the criticism, DHS issued a statement clarifying that the memorandum merely restates...