Overview
- USCIS issued a policy memo on Friday that directs officers to treat in‑country adjustment of status as an “extraordinary” exception and to require most temporary visa holders to return to their home countries to complete immigrant visa processing.
- The change affects a large share of the green‑card system because roughly half of recent green cards were granted to people already in the United States, meaning hundreds of thousands to more than a million applicants could be touched by the new guidance.
- Advocates and lawyers warn the policy risks family separation and safety problems for people from countries without U.S. consulates, and it will add pressure to consular offices already facing long appointment waits.
- USCIS said officers may allow exceptions for applicants who offer an economic benefit or meet a national‑interest standard, but the memo leaves key questions unanswered about pending cases, required time abroad and the exceptions’ scope.
- The move builds on a broader administration push to tighten legal immigration and is likely to prompt lawsuits that could delay or block implementation while courts consider whether the change needed formal rulemaking and how it will be applied in practice.