The UK, the EU, Japan, and Australia all have identical rules to this policy.
Six weeks and 255 Euro later, it was in my hand. I have to “renew” it every ten years, but that’s only because the card needs to match my US passport number (and means I don’t have to carry that book around); there’s no interview or document gathering.
The whole system of US of needing to leave the country to even renew visas is absolutely bizarre and does not have analogues in most other countries (at least EU/UK)
Having to go abroad when a visa/PR has already been granted is totally pointless. Green cards are mailed to your home in the US right now.
Perpetrator of misinformation or victim? Ignorant or malevolent?