Thousands of H1-B visa holders in the US will no longer be required to automatically leave the country when applying for permanent residence, after US immigration officials issued clarification on a controversial new policy introduced by the Trump administration.The clarification comes days after the Trump administration issued a major policy memo that limited the circumstances under which foreign nationals can apply for a green card from inside the US. The move caused consternation among international workers, including a large number of Indian professionals working in the US technology sector.However, US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) spokesman Zach Kahler later told Newsweek that many applicants who provide an economic benefit or serve the national interest can still remain in the US during the process.“Those that offer applications that provide economic benefits or are otherwise in the national interest will likely be able to proceed on their existing path,” Kahler said in an email.He said others “may be asked to apply abroad depending on individual circumstances.”The administration’s earlier guidance suggested a tougher approach. In a press release accompanying the policy memorandum, Kahler said most temporary visa holders will now be expected to return to their home countries before applying for permanent residence.“We are returning to the original intent of the law to ensure that aliens properly navigate our country’s immigration system,” Kahler said.He said: “From now on, a foreigner who is temporarily in the US and wants a green card must return to his or her home country to apply, except in exceptional circumstances.”For decades, workers on temporary visas, such as H1-B, L-1, and student visas, were generally allowed to transition to permanent residence through the domestic adjustment-status process. That system enabled applicants to remain employed in the US while avoiding the lengthy disruptions caused by foreign processing.The issue is particularly important for H-1B visa holders, many of whom work in fields including technology, healthcare, engineering and finance. Immigration lawyers warn that forcing workers to leave the country during this process could create great uncertainty for both families and employers. Applicants from countries facing visa backlogs or limited consular appointments could potentially be stranded abroad for months or years to complete processing outside the US.The policy has also raised concerns over family separation, work disruption and a lack of clear guidance on who actually qualifies under the “economic benefit” or “national interest” exemptions.According to USCIS, the H-1B visa program allows U.S. employers to hire foreign professionals in particular occupations for up to three years, with extensions available in some cases. The program is capped at 85,000 new visas annually, with 20,000 reserved for applicants holding advanced US degrees.Indians still remain the largest group among H-1B visa holders in the US.