United States President Donald Trump has announced that Nigerians and other foreign nationals seeking green cards must now apply for residency from their home countries, except in exceptional cases.
The directive, revealed on May 22, 2026, was issued by the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), which said the move is intended to align with the “original intent” of US immigration law. Under the policy, applicants must process their green card applications through US consular offices abroad under the supervision of the Department of State.
USCIS explained that the change is designed to reduce the number of migrants who remain in the US illegally after unsuccessful applications. Spokesman Zach Kahler noted that requiring applicants to apply from their home countries ensures the system operates as intended and discourages people from overstaying visas or bypassing legal procedures.
The new policy particularly affects temporary visitors, including students, tourists, and workers on nonimmigrant visas. USCIS stressed that visits to the US should be temporary and not used as the first step toward permanent residency.
Routing green card applications through consular offices abroad will also allow USCIS to devote more resources to other immigration priorities, such as assisting victims of violent crimes, human trafficking cases, naturalisation requests, and other critical services.
The administration’s latest directive follows a temporary halt in December 2025 on green card and citizenship applications from Nigerians and nationals of other countries added to the US travel ban. This earlier suspension affected legal immigrants already in the US who were seeking to adjust their status or gain citizenship. The freeze also included nationals from 19 countries impacted by the travel restrictions announced the previous year, a move linked to heightened security concerns following attacks on National Guard soldiers in Washington DC.
