Donald Trump's administration has introduced a radical change to the procedure for obtaining green cards in the United States. Applicants must now return to their countries of origin to apply for an immigrant visa. The new rule could affect hundreds of thousands of people, separate families, and force individuals to leave their jobs. This is reported by Dengi.ua with reference to a publication by CNN.

What Changes Have Been Introduced in the U.S. Green Card Procedure

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced a new rule requiring green card applicants to return to their countries of origin to apply for an immigrant visa. Previously, a significant number of individuals were able to adjust their status to permanent residency while remaining inside the United States. Now, that option has been effectively eliminated—except in cases of "extraordinary circumstances," which are still permitted under the rule. The green card process itself remains complicated and lengthy, spanning anywhere from several months to several years.

How Many People in the U.S. Could Be Affected by the New Rule​​​​​​​

According to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, approximately 1.4 million people gained permanent residency in the U.S. during fiscal year 2024. The new policy could impact a significant portion of the U.S. legal immigration community, specifically by:

  • Separating families.
  • Forcing people to leave their jobs.
  • Disrupting communities across the country.

How the U.S. Government Explains the New Rule

USCIS Spokesperson Zach Kahler explained that the new rule is intended to reduce the number of undocumented migrants on U.S. soil.

"When aliens apply from their home country, it reduces the need to seek out and remove those who choose to go into the shadows and remain in the U.S. illegally after being denied residency," Kahler said. The rule provides exceptions for "extraordinary circumstances," but a specific, definitive list of these circumstances has not yet been publicly released.

How the Trump Administration Is Limiting Legal Immigration​​​​​​​

While cracking down on illegal immigration remains a central priority for the Trump administration, this new rule marks another major step toward limiting legal immigration channels into the U.S.

Among the administration's other measures are:

  • Significantly reducing the acceptance of asylum applications.
  • Ending temporary protections for citizens of several countries who fled natural disasters, wars, or other dangerous conditions.
  • Halting refugee admissions, except for white South Africans.
  • Restricting various work and student visas.