The Trump administration said on Friday that most foreigners seeking permanent US residency must now apply for Green Cards from their home countries, closing a pathway that allowed people already in America to file applications.
Zach Kahler, spokesman for US Citizenship and Immigration Services, said the new rule applies to temporary visitors including students, workers on visas, and tourists. "From now on, an alien who is in the US temporarily and wants a Green Card must return to their home country to apply, except in extraordinary circumstances," he said.
The change reverses a long-standing practice. The United States issues more than one million Green Cards yearly, and until now, more than half came from applicants already living in the country. The Trump administration argues that temporary visas were designed for short stays, not as stepping stones to permanent residency.
Kahler said the new approach would "reduce the need to find and remove those who decide to slip into the shadows and remain in the US illegally after being denied residency." Green Card applications will now be processed by the State Department at US consular offices overseas rather than through immigration offices inside America.
The announcement reflects Trump's broader immigration crackdown. Since taking office, his administration has closed several legal pathways to US residency and promised to expel millions of undocumented migrants. Trump campaigned heavily on immigration enforcement, making it a centrepiece of his political platform.
The policy creates practical complications for foreign nationals in the US on temporary status. Students finishing degrees, workers on H-1B visas, and other temporary residents will now face the choice of leaving America to apply or abandoning their Green Card hopes. Critics argue the move restricts legal immigration routes at a time when employers in America report labour shortages in various sectors.
The State Department will begin processing applications at consular offices worldwide, with implementation details to follow in coming weeks.
