The Trump administration is introducing a major immigration policy change that would require many green card applicants currently living in the United States to leave the country and apply from their home countries.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services said noncitizens who are in the U.S. temporarily — including those on student visas, tourist visas or temporary work status — should not use that temporary stay as a pathway to permanent residency. Under the new policy, applicants seeking lawful permanent resident status would generally need to go through consular processing through the U.S. Department of State.
USCIS said it will allow adjustment of status from inside the United States only in extraordinary circumstances and on a case-by-case basis.
A USCIS spokesperson said the administration is “returning to the original intent of the law” and argued that temporary visitors should leave once their authorized stay ends. Officials say the change will help prevent people from remaining in the country illegally if their green card applications are denied.
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The administration also says handling more cases through U.S. consular offices abroad would free up USCIS resources for other immigration priorities, including naturalization applications and visas for victims of crime and human trafficking.
Critics argue the policy could create serious challenges for families, workers and communities. Many green card applicants have U.S. citizen spouses or children, pay taxes and work in industries facing labor shortages. Opponents also warn that forcing applicants to leave the country could lead to long processing delays and humanitarian concerns.
Maye Musk, the mother of Elon Musk, reacted to the policy change on X by describing her own green card process as a Canadian immigrant. She said the process required vaccinations, health tests and a lung X-ray, and recalled having to travel to Montreal for additional screening. She said it took five more years before she became a U.S. citizen, adding that the process was difficult but “worth it.”
It remains unclear whether Immigration and Customs Enforcement will begin deporting green card applicants affected by the new policy.
Homeland Security said temporary U.S. visitors seeking a green card must return to their home country to apply.
An alien who is in the U.S. temporarily and wants a Green Card must return to their home country to apply.
This policy allows our immigration system to function as the law intended instead of incentivizing loopholes.
The era of abusing our nation’s immigration system is over. https://t.co/ofyEYGPDLC
— Homeland Security (@DHSgov) May 22, 2026
