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.
Foreign nationals already in the United States who seek permanent residency must now return to their home countries to complete the process, except in extraordinary circumstances decided by USCIS officers. The change ends more than fifty years of in-country adjustment of status for many temporary visa holders, including students, workers, spouses of citizens, and some refugees.
USCIS stated that nonimmigrant visits are intended for a limited purpose and should not serve as the starting point for green cards. The agency indicated that applicants providing economic benefit or advancing national interest may receive exceptions. Implementation details, including effective date and treatment of pending cases, remain unspecified.
Critics including immigration lawyers and aid groups warned of extended family separations, visa backlogs exceeding one year at some consulates, and particular risks for applicants from countries without functioning U.S. embassies. Former Biden administration official Doug Rand noted the policy aligns with broader administration efforts to reduce pathways to permanent residency. Hundreds of thousands of people apply for green cards from within the United States each year.
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