Foreigners in the United States seeking a green card will now be required to leave the country and apply from their home country, according to an announcement made by the Trump administration on May 24, 2026. This policy change affects foreign nationals with legal status, including those married to U.S. citizens, holders of work and student visas, and refugees. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) stated that only in 'extraordinary circumstances' would individuals be allowed to apply for permanent residency while remaining in the U.S.
The agency emphasized that nonimmigrants, such as students and temporary workers, are expected to leave the U.S. after their visit. Doug Rand, a former USCIS senior advisor, noted that this policy aims to reduce the number of people obtaining permanent residency, which is a pathway to citizenship. Approximately 600,000 people in the U.S. apply for green cards each year.
USCIS has not specified when this policy will take effect or how it will affect ongoing green card applications. The agency indicated that individuals providing an economic benefit or serving national interests may be allowed to remain in the U.S. while applying.
This policy change follows previous measures by the Trump administration to restrict immigration from various countries, including outright travel bans and pauses in visa processing. Immigration advocates have raised concerns that requiring individuals to return to their home countries could lead to indefinite family separations, especially if visa processing is not available in those countries. Critics argue that this change undermines decades of immigration policy that allowed for status adjustments within the U.S. and could disproportionately affect individuals from countries with unsafe conditions or closed embassies.
Legal experts are currently analyzing the implications of this policy change, as many immigrants are expressing confusion and concern about how it will be implemented.