The United States has introduced a sweeping immigration policy overhaul that could significantly reshape how immigrants apply for permanent residency, commonly known as a green card.
The new directive from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) requires many immigrants already inside the country on temporary visas to leave the United States and complete their applications through U.S. embassies or consulates abroad.
The policy marks one of the most significant changes to the immigration process in recent years because it narrows the use of the long-established “adjustment of status” system that previously allowed many applicants to remain in the country while pursuing permanent residency.
For years, adjustment of status served as a pathway for immigrants living legally in the United States under temporary visas. Students, foreign workers, and certain family-based applicants could apply for permanent residency without leaving the country.
They could continue living and, in some cases, working in the United States while waiting for their applications to move through the immigration system.
Under the updated guidance, USCIS now views adjustment of status as an extraordinary form of relief rather than a routine pathway to permanent residency. Immigration officers will direct most applicants toward consular processing, meaning they will have to return to their home countries and attend interviews and complete procedures through U.S. diplomatic offices abroad.
The policy memo, issued by USCIS and effective immediately, instructs immigration officers to apply stricter scrutiny when reviewing applications seeking in-country status adjustment. Officials say the move aligns immigration practices with the original purpose of immigration laws.
According to immigration officials, the administration wants to eliminate what it views as loopholes that allow individuals to remain in the country after temporary visas expire or after immigration benefits are denied.
USCIS officials also argue that the revised approach could improve efficiency by allowing resources to shift toward other immigration services and enforcement priorities.
The changes could affect a broad group of immigrants.
Students studying in the United States under temporary educational visas, foreign professionals working under employment programs, temporary workers, visitors, and individuals pursuing family-based immigration processes could all face new hurdles under the revised framework. Some employment-based green card applicants could also encounter additional procedural steps before obtaining permanent residency.
The agency stated that immigration officers can still approve adjustment of status requests under extraordinary circumstances on a case-by-case basis.
Officials also indicated that immigrants whose applications provide significant economic benefits or align with U.S. national interests may continue the process while remaining inside the country. However, USCIS has not yet clearly defined the standards for such decisions.
