Trump tightens green card rules, applicants in limbo
The administration of Donald Trump has announced sweeping changes to the US immigration system, requiring most green card applicants already living in the United States to leave the country and complete their permanent residency applications from their home nations.
The new policy, unveiled on Friday by the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), marks a major shift in immigration procedures and has sparked concern among international students, temporary workers, and families awaiting residency approvals.
Under the revised rules, foreign nationals seeking lawful permanent resident status — commonly known as a green card — will generally no longer be allowed to complete the process while remaining in the United States. Instead, applicants must attend visa interviews and final processing at a US embassy or consulate abroad, unless they qualify under what officials described as “extraordinary circumstances.”
Previously, many immigrants residing in the US on student, tourist, or temporary work visas could apply for permanent residency through a process known as “Adjustment of Status,” allowing them to remain in the country while their applications were processed.
Immigration advocates say the new policy could create significant uncertainty for thousands of applicants who may now face lengthy wait times, travel restrictions, and the risk of being unable to re-enter the United States after departing.
Legal experts also warn that the measure may increase processing backlogs at US consulates worldwide and disrupt employment for skilled foreign workers currently based in America.
The Trump administration has defended the move as part of a broader effort to tighten immigration controls and ensure stricter screening procedures for residency applicants.
Critics, however, argue that the decision will place unnecessary hardship on immigrants who have already established careers, studies, and family lives in the United States.
The policy is expected to face legal challenges from immigration rights groups and affected applicants in the coming weeks.
