Trump administration to force foreigners in the U.S. to apply for a green card abroad

Foreigners in the United States who want lawful permanent residence must leave the country and apply in their home country, with limited exceptions for “extraordinary circumstances.” The change reverses a long-standing policy that allowed people with legal status—including spouses of U.S. citizens, holders of work and student visas, and refugees or asylum seekers—to complete the green card process entirely in the United States. USCIS said nonimmigrants are intended for short, specific visits and should not use a temporary stay as the first step toward permanent residency. The policy is expected to increase confusion and concern among aid groups, immigration lawyers, and immigrants. The administration’s stated goal is to reduce the number of people obtaining permanent residency, which can lead to citizenship.

"Foreigners in the U.S. who want a green card will need to leave and apply in their home country, the Trump administration announced Friday, in a surprise change to a longstanding policy that sowed confusion and concern among aid groups, immigration lawyers and immigrants."

"The announcement from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services said foreigners who are in the U.S. temporarily and who want to apply to become lawful permanent residents, or green card holders, have to return home and apply there, except in "extraordinary circumstances." USCIS officers would decide whether applicants meet those."

""Nonimmigrants, like students, temporary workers, or people on tourist visas, come to the U.S. for a short time and for a specific purpose. Our system is designed for them to leave when their visit is over. Their visit should not function as the first step in the Green Card process," the agency said in a statement."

""The goal of this policy is very explicit. Senior officials in this administration have said over and over that they want fewer people to get permanent residency because permanent residency is a path to citizenship and they want to block that path for as many people as possible," said Doug Rand, a former senior advisor at USCIS during the Biden administration, who added that about 600,000 people already in the U.S. apply each year for a green card."

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