A new policy memo from US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has sparked confusion and fear among hundreds of thousands of visa holders and families. The memo, issued last week, requires many foreigners in the US to leave the country and obtain green cards through their home countries, upending the usual process of adjusting status from within the US.
Multiple individuals, speaking anonymously, expressed concerns that the policy threatens careers, homes, and long-term stability. A 34-year-old Indian software engineer on an H-1B visa in Washington said he had invested heavily in the EB-5 investor program to expedite his green card, but now fears he may have to return to his home country, losing his job and home.
A USCIS spokesperson later clarified that the agency is restating its interpretation of congressional intent, and that applicants providing economic benefit or in the national interest may continue on their current path. However, the clarification has done little to ease uncertainty, as the policy shift from targeting illegal to legal immigration deepens anxiety.
A 30-year-old Portland resident, whose Mexican husband received a conditional green card in February, worries about his ability to travel. She said, 'It does feel like if this could change, and the rug pulled out from everyone pursuing immigration correctly and legally, then what promise do we truly have about our position now?'
A 26-year-old architectural designer from Hong Kong on an H-1B visa in New York said the memo disrupted plans with his fiancée. The policy adds another layer of uncertainty for many already navigating a difficult immigration system.
