Trump administration requires green card applicants to apply abroad
Cover image from thenation.com, which was analyzed for this article
New rules require foreigners in the US to leave the country to apply for green cards from their home nations. Reports frame the shift as a surprise tightening of immigration procedures.
PoliticalOS
Saturday, May 23, 2026 — Politics
The policy ends in-country green card processing for most temporary visa holders and requires applications from abroad except in limited cases. Implementation mechanics and the scale of resulting separations remain unclear pending further guidance.
What outlets missed
The volume of visa overstays and the specific statutory language on nonimmigrant intent cited by USCIS as authority for the change. Exact numbers of affected pending applications and any internal USCIS guidance on "extraordinary circumstances" exceptions. Potential effects on specific categories such as religious workers or medical professionals already highlighted by lawyers but not quantified.
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