The Trump administration has announced a major change to the US green card process, stating that foreign nationals seeking permanent residency will now be required to return to their home countries to apply.
The move, outlined in a policy memo by the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), limits approvals from within the United States to only extraordinary circumstances.
Under the new policy, applicants for permanent residency-a key step toward US citizenship-will largely need to complete consular processing abroad.
The decision could affect hundreds of thousands of people legally living in the United States on temporary visas, including students, spouses of US citizens, and foreign workers.
Immigration advocates have warned that the change could separate families for months or longer, as green card processing often takes significant time. The agency has not specified which categories may qualify for exemptions, although refugees are expected to be excluded from the requirement.
A USCIS spokesperson said individuals who provide economic benefits or serve the national interest may still be allowed to apply from within the country. However, it remains unclear whether skilled workers on H-1B visas would qualify for such exceptions.
The policy marks a significant shift in the Trump administration’s immigration approach, extending stricter controls beyond undocumented migrants to legal immigration pathways as well.