POLITICS

USCIS orders green card applicants to file abroad

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Washington — The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services issued a policy memorandum on Friday requiring most temporary visa holders and humanitarian parolees who are living in the United States to return to their home countries and complete green card applications through consular processing abroad. The directive generally ends the practice of allowing adjustment of status inside the U.S., limiting in-country processing to 'extraordinary circumstances,' USCIS said. "We're returning to the original intent of the law to ensure aliens navigate our nation's immigration system properly," USCIS spokesperson Zach Kahler said in a statement. USCIS said the change affects a wide range of people, including students, tourists, temporary workers, refugees, asylum seekers and those married to U.S. citizens, and directed officers to assess exceptions on a case-by-case basis. Aid groups and immigration lawyers expressed concern about travel burdens and the likelihood of legal challenges in response to the memorandum.

Prepared by Lauren Mitchell and reviewed by editorial team.

Timeline of Events

Longstanding practice allowed many nonimmigrants to seek adjustment of status inside the U.S.
USCIS on Friday issued a policy memo directing most applicants to pursue consular processing abroad.
USCIS spokesman Zach Kahler said in the released statement that exceptions will be rare and case-by-case.
Aid groups and immigration lawyers reported confusion and concern following the announcement this week.
USCIS instructed its officers to evaluate extraordinary circumstances and deferred certain adjudicative responsibilities to consular posts.

Why This Matters to You

If you or someone you know is in the U.S. on a temporary visa or humanitarian parole, this change could affect you. It means most will have to return home to apply for a green card. This could disrupt plans and add travel costs. Check with an immigration lawyer for advice.

The Bottom Line

This change in policy could make it harder for non-citizens to become permanent residents. It's a return to a stricter interpretation of immigration law. If you're affected, keep an eye out for legal challenges. Worth forwarding if you know someone navigating the immigration process.