Immigration Agency Curbs Green Card Path

USCIS Restricts Status Adjustments

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced on May 22, 2026, a policy change requiring most non-citizens seeking permanent residency to apply from outside the United States. This directive mandates that individuals temporarily present in the U.S. must return to their home countries for consular processing via the Department of State to obtain a Green Card, except in extraordinary circumstances.

The new policy reiterates existing immigration law, directing USCIS officers to evaluate each case individually to determine if it qualifies for an exception to the overseas application requirement. This change aims to align the immigration system with its original legal intent, reducing the number of individuals attempting to adjust status while remaining within the U.S. after their temporary visas expire.

This operational shift is expected to streamline the processing of Green Card applications by directing the majority of these cases to U.S. consular offices abroad. Consequently, USCIS resources will be reallocated to focus on other priorities, including applications for victims of violent crime and human trafficking, as well as naturalization processes.