Applying for a Green Card? You’ll have to wait because the US won’t be issuing the new ones for the next 60 days. Those already there, or seeking temporary visa won’t be affected. By Tanvi Jain
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US President Donald Trump recently signed an order of temporarily blocking the issue of new Green Cards for the next 60 days. Trump reportedly said that the idea behind the order is to protect the American workers in times of the pandemic.
Trump reportedly confirmed the same in a media briefing, saying that he has signed the executive order to temporarily suspend immigration into the country, so as to ensure that the unemployed Americans are first in line to get the jobs once the economy is back on track. He added that the move will also help preserve healthcare resources for American patients.
“By pausing immigration, we’ll help put unemployed Americans first in line for jobs as America reopens. So important. It would be wrong and unjust for Americans laid off by the virus to be replaced with new immigrant labour flown in from abroad,” a White House statement said.
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The order, however, stands only for those applying for permanent residence from outside the United States and not the ones already living in the country. It will also not affect those applying for a temporary visa such as students or guest workers. Moreover, healthcare professionals and their families, and those who invest in job-creating programmes, will also be exempted from the order. However, the measure will halt the visa lottery that issues around 50,000 visas every year.
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The immigration lawyers and advocates slammed the move saying that it will take the economy further down. Reports also suggest that after a period of 60 days, Trump will himself further evaluate the need for an extension. Moreover, he has also confirmed that all immigration-related measures will be examined in future by the US administration.
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