US Green Card Applicants Will Now Have to Return to Home Countries to Apply, DHS Says
In one of the most significant immigration policy shifts in recent U.S. history, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced that most foreign nationals seeking Green Cards while already residing in the United States will now be required to return to their home countries and complete the application process through American consulates abroad. The move effectively dismantles a long-standing immigration pathway known as “Adjustment of Status,” which previously allowed many immigrants to apply for permanent residency without leaving the country.
The new policy was announced through the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), with officials arguing that temporary visas were never intended to become automatic routes to permanent residency from inside the United States. USCIS spokesperson Zach Kahler stated that individuals entering America on student, tourist, or work visas should complete Green Card procedures through their countries of origin unless “extraordinary circumstances” apply.
For decades, Adjustment of Status allowed eligible immigrants already living legally in the U.S. to remain in the country while their permanent residency applications were processed. The policy particularly benefited H-1B workers, international students, spouses of U.S. citizens, and employment-based immigrants. Immigration attorneys now warn that forcing applicants to leave the country could disrupt families, careers, businesses, and long-term residency plans for hundreds of thousands of people.
The Trump administration has defended the decision as part of a broader effort to tighten immigration controls and reduce misuse of the visa system. DHS officials claim the new process will help prevent visa overstays and allow immigration agencies to redirect resources toward other cases such as naturalization, asylum, and crime-victim protections.
Critics, however, describe the policy as a severe blow to legal immigration. Refugee organizations and immigrant rights groups argue that many applicants could face dangerous situations if forced to return to unstable or hostile home countries. Aid groups warned that trafficking survivors, abused children, and mixed-status families may face particularly devastating consequences.
Business and technology sectors are also expressing concern. Thousands of highly skilled professionals working in medicine, engineering, research, and information technology may now face uncertainty regarding employment continuity and visa status. Some analysts fear the policy could trigger a major talent outflow from the United States at a time when global competition for skilled workers is intensifying.
Reports indicate that the administration may still provide limited exemptions for applicants considered to provide “economic benefit” or serve the “national interest” of the United States. However, USCIS has not yet clearly defined which individuals would qualify under those exceptions, creating additional uncertainty for immigrants and employers alike.
Legal experts believe the new directive could face major court challenges in the coming months. Immigration lawyers argue that forcing applicants to leave the U.S. after years of lawful residence may violate established administrative practices and could create humanitarian and constitutional concerns, especially for families with American spouses or children.
The policy also reflects a broader hardening of immigration enforcement under President Donald Trump’s second administration. In recent months, the administration has introduced stricter visa scrutiny, expanded deportation policies, reduced visa validity periods in some categories, and intensified immigration enforcement measures across multiple sectors.
For millions of immigrants living and working in America, the announcement has generated fear and uncertainty. Until detailed implementation guidelines are released, many applicants remain unclear whether the rule will apply retroactively to pending Green Card applications already filed within the United States.
