The United States government recently issued a draft policy memorandum which could change the way green card applications are handled.Traditionally, legal immigrants in the US could apply for a green card while staying in the country, a process called 'adjustment of status.

' This allows people who entered on nonimmigrant visas, such as students or temporary workers, to transition to permanent residency without leaving the country.However, the proposed memorandum suggests that such applicants should return to their home countries to complete the process.The reasoning, according to the Department of Homeland Security, is to prevent abuse of the immigration system.

Critics, including legal experts, argue that this policy wrongly assumes that lawful immigrants are cheating the system, despite no evidence to support this claim.Families may face severe disruption if one spouse must leave, children’s schooling could be affected, and careers interrupted.

Although the memorandum emphasises stricter scrutiny for those applying from within the US, legal experts have raised questions about its legality, claiming congressional approval would be required to implement such changes.Immigration attorneys are advising applicants to continue using existing procedures but remain cautious about their social media and documentation.The policy could signal a broader anti-immigrant stance rather than a purely procedural reform.