India, May 23 -- The Trump administration has announced a major immigration policy shift that could force many immigrants already living in the US to leave the country before applying for permanent residency.

The new policy, unveiled Friday through a memo issued by US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), is part of President Donald Trump's effort to tighten legal immigration pathways alongside his ongoing crackdown on undocumented immigration.

Currently, many immigrants who are already in the US legally, including students, tourists, temporary workers and spouses of US citizens, can apply for permanent residency through a process known as "adjustment of status."

This allows eligible applicants to obtain a green card without le...