Trump Administration Requires Green Card Applicants to Apply from Outside US
Primary region US
Tags Immigration · Policy
Regions US
The Trump administration issued a new rule through US Citizenship and Immigration Services on May 22-23, 2026, requiring most green card applicants to apply from outside the United States, effectively ending 'adjustment of status' processing for non-immigrant visa holders already in the country. The policy affects hundreds of thousands of employment-based and family-based green card applicants currently in the US on H-1B, L-1, F-1, and other non-immigrant visas, who must now return to their home countries and apply through consular processing. The rule is expected to cause major disruptions for applicants and their families, with significant implications for US businesses that rely on foreign talent.
Strategic interpretation
The green card rule change represents one of the most significant immigration policy shifts of Trump's second term, with far-reaching economic consequences. By forcing applicants to leave the US, the policy creates uncertainty for skilled workers and may accelerate talent migration to competitor nations like Canada and Australia. The rule also signals the administration's willingness to use regulatory action to reshape immigration flows beyond border enforcement, potentially affecting US competitiveness in technology and research sectors.