The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump has decided that most people holding temporary visas or living in the United States under humanitarian parole programs must return to their home countries in order to apply for a green card. However, the head of Afghan Evac says that the lack of U.S. consular services in Afghanistan creates serious challenges for Afghans in this process.
According to a report by ABC News, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services released a new guideline on Friday, the first day of Jawza/Khordad. Under this guideline, green card applications filed from within the United States will only be accepted in exceptional cases.
Zak Kahler, spokesperson for the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, said that the decision was made to ensure that foreign nationals properly follow the legal immigration process of the United States. According to him, anyone temporarily residing in the U.S. who wishes to obtain permanent residency must return to their home country to submit the application, unless they qualify under special circumstances.
Meanwhile, the head of Afghan Evac reacted to the decision by saying that under Taliban rule, there are no U.S. consular services available in Afghanistan, and Afghans cannot submit green card applications from within the country.
Immigration lawyers also told ABC News that this decision could affect hundreds of thousands of people. According to them, many individuals holding temporary work visas who have applied for permanent residency from inside the United States may face significant legal and administrative difficulties.
A green card is the official authorization for permanent residency in the United States, allowing a person to live and work in the country, but it does not constitute full U.S. citizenship.
Writer:Saeed Sameer
