U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced a major change to immigration policy requiring most noncitizens applying for green cards to return to their home countries while their applications are processed.
Under the new directive, applicants for lawful permanent residency will generally be required to complete the process through U.S. consular offices abroad under the Department of State. USCIS said “adjustment of status” inside the United States will now only be granted in rare and exceptional cases.
The agency stated that the policy applies to noncitizens already living in the U.S. on temporary visas, including students, tourists, and temporary workers. Officials argued that such visas are meant to be short-term and should not automatically serve as a pathway to permanent residency.
USCIS spokesperson Zach Kahler said the change is intended to align with the original intent of immigration law and reduce cases where applicants remain in the country illegally after visa expiration or denial of residency. He added that processing applications abroad would also help immigration authorities focus resources on other priorities.
The policy has sparked debate, with critics warning it could face legal challenges. The announcement comes as part of broader immigration tightening under the Trump administration, which has previously restricted green card processing for certain countries.
