The United States’ latest green card policy, which requires many legal immigrants to apply for permanent residency from outside the country, has triggered criticism from technology leaders and Indian-origin entrepreneurs, with several warning that the move could hurt innovation, talent mobility and immigrant families.
The new policy, issued by the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), says adjustment of status applications for green cards inside the US are discretionary and should not replace regular consular processing abroad. The move could force many legal immigrants already living in the US, including H-1B workers, students, researchers and professionals, to leave the country and apply for permanent residency from overseas.
