US Tightens Green Card Process, Says Most Applicants Must Apply From Home Countries

Reported by: Ijeoma .G | Edited by: Henry Owen

The United States government has announced a major change to its immigration policy, stating that most foreigners seeking permanent residency through adjustment of status will now be required to leave the country and apply for Green Cards through US consular offices abroad, except in what officials described as “extraordinary circumstances.”

The policy was announced on Thursday, May 22, 2026, by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), an agency under the Department of Homeland Security. The agency issued a formal policy memorandum directing immigration officers to treat adjustment of status inside the United States as an exceptional form of relief rather than a routine pathway to permanent residency. 

In a statement released by USCIS spokesman Zach Kahler, the agency said the new directive was intended to restore what it described as the “original intent” of US immigration law.

“We’re returning to the original intent of the law to ensure aliens navigate our nation’s immigration system properly. From now on, an alien who is in the U.S. temporarily and wants a Green Card must return to their home country to apply, except in extraordinary circumstances,” Kahler said in the official stateme.

Under the new policy, foreign nationals currently living in the United States on temporary visas, including certain students, tourists, and temporary workers, may no longer be routinely allowed to obtain permanent residency without first departing the country and completing the process through a US embassy or consulate abroad. 

For years, many eligible immigrants already residing in the United States used the “adjustment of status” process to apply for lawful permanent residence, commonly known as a Green Card, without returning to their countries of origin. Immigration lawyers and analysts say the new directive represents one of the most significant procedural shifts in recent US immigration policy. 

USCIS stated that immigration officers must now evaluate such requests on a case-by-case basis and determine whether applicants qualify for what the agency called “extraordinary relief.” The memo emphasized that consular processing abroad should become the standard route for most Green Card applicants. 

The agency has not yet provided a detailed public definition of what would qualify as “extraordinary circumstances.” However, existing USCIS guidance on immigration emergencies references situations such as severe illness, conflicts abroad, natural disasters, legal disability, or other conditions considered beyond an applicant’s control. 

Reuters reported on Thursday that the policy could affect more than one million immigrants currently pursuing permanent residency in the United States. Immigration advocacy groups expressed concern that the change may create major disruptions for families, employers, international students, and foreign professionals already living and working legally in the country. 

Some immigration attorneys also warned that the policy could expose applicants to lengthy processing delays, visa uncertainty, or difficulties re-entering the United States after departing for overseas interviews. Critics argued that the measure could particularly affect people in mixed-status families and applicants whose lives and employment are already established inside the country. 

The USCIS memo stated that the policy was consistent with long-standing immigration law and prior court decisions. The agency argued that requiring applicants to complete immigration processing from abroad would reduce cases involving visa overstays and unlawful residence after denied applications. 

The policy forms part of a broader tightening of immigration enforcement under President Donald Trump’s administration during his second term in office. In recent months, the administration has also introduced visa restrictions, increased deportation efforts, and expanded immigration screening measures affecting several categories of foreign nationals. 

As of Friday, May 23, 2026, USCIS had not released additional operational guidance explaining how the policy would affect pending adjustment-of-status applications already filed before the announcement. Immigration experts said further clarification from the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of State is expected in the coming weeks.