The Trump administration has announced a sweeping new policy aimed at making it significantly more difficult for immigrants already residing in the United States to obtain permanent residency, commonly known as a Green Card. The move is part of a broader effort to tighten legal immigration pathways.
Under the new guidelines issued on Friday, most applicants seeking permanent residency will now be required to apply from outside the United States. This means that many foreign nationals currently living in the country will have to leave before submitting their immigrant visa applications through US consulates in their home countries.
Officials said the changes will largely affect non-immigrant visa holders, including international students, temporary workers, and tourists. In most cases, adjustment of status within the US will no longer be permitted, except under limited and exceptional circumstances.
According to immigration authorities, individuals who overstayed their visas or entered legally but remained beyond their authorised period may also be required to depart the country before applying for a Green Card. However, such departures could trigger additional immigration consequences, including multi-year re-entry bans in certain cases.
The policy comes alongside existing restrictions, including travel bans affecting nationals from several countries on national security grounds and limitations on immigrant visa processing for multiple states, citing economic and security concerns.
Officials warned that those affected by the overstays rule could face a 10-year ban on re-entry in many situations, making return to the United States difficult or impossible for some applicants.
Former US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) officials have described the measure as highly significant, saying it could impact millions of families and employers and introduce new uncertainty into the legal immigration system.
While the full list of exemptions has not been detailed, reports indicate that dual-intent visa holders, such as H-1B skilled workers, as well as refugees and asylum recipients, may still be eligible to apply for Green Cards while remaining in the country.
President Donald Trump, in a recent statement, reiterated his administration’s stance on immigration, saying the US would not allow illegal migration and emphasizing plans to strengthen protections for American citizens.
