Trump Administration Tightens Green Card Rules, Requires Most Applicants to Apply From Home Countries
May 23, 2026
The Trump administration has introduced a major change to the U.S. green card process, requiring most foreign nationals seeking permanent residency to return to their home countries to apply.
According to a new policy memo issued by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), approvals from within the United States will now be limited to only “extraordinary circumstances.” The move shifts most applicants to consular processing abroad, ending a long-standing pathway that allowed many legal residents to apply while remaining in the country.
The new rule is expected to affect hundreds of thousands of people living legally in the U.S. on temporary visas, including international students, spouses of American citizens, and foreign workers such as H-1B visa holders.
Immigration advocates have raised concerns that the policy could separate families for months or even longer, as green card processing abroad often involves lengthy waiting periods. USCIS has not yet clarified which categories may qualify for exemptions, although refugees are expected to remain excluded from the requirement.
A USCIS spokesperson said applicants who provide significant economic benefits or serve the national interest may still be allowed to apply from within the United States. However, it remains unclear whether highly skilled foreign workers will broadly qualify for such exceptions.
The policy marks another significant shift in the Trump administration’s immigration agenda, extending stricter controls beyond undocumented migration to legal immigration pathways as well.
