New USCIS policy reshapes residency path, warning temporary visitors cannot treat America as immigration shortcut.
The United States has announced a major immigration policy shift requiring most temporary immigrants seeking a Green Card to return to their home countries and apply through consular processing.
According to a USCIS policy memo dated May 22, 2026, foreign nationals already inside the United States on temporary visas will generally no longer be allowed to adjust status from within the country, except in extraordinary circumstances.
USCIS said the move reflects long-standing immigration law and court decisions, placing responsibility for most Green Card processing with the Department of State through American consulates abroad.
USCIS spokesperson Zach Kahler said the rule restores the original intent of the law and ensures that immigrants follow the proper legal pathway. He said temporary visitors, including students, workers and tourists, enter the United States for limited purposes and should not automatically treat their stay as the first step toward permanent residency.
Kahler argued that requiring applicants to return home will reduce the risk of people remaining illegally in the United States after being denied residency. He said the policy will also allow USCIS to focus its resources on other priorities, including naturalization, crime victim visas, human trafficking-related cases and other immigration services.
The change is expected to affect many foreign nationals, including Indians, who are already in the United States and seeking permanent residency. Under the new policy, most will now need to complete the Green Card process from outside the country unless they qualify for an exception.
The announcement marks one of the most significant changes to the US immigration process, tightening the route from temporary stay to permanent residency.
