Trump administration requires Green Card applications from outside US

The administration of Donald Trump is introducing a new rule requiring foreign nationals seeking a green card to apply from outside the United States, marking a significant shift in immigration procedures.

According to the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), individuals who are temporarily present in the United States will now be required to return to their country of origin to submit applications for permanent residency, except in emergency cases.

Previously, certain categories of foreign nationals—including tourists, students, and temporary workers—were allowed, under specific conditions, to apply for permanent resident status while remaining in the United States. According to The Washington Post, more than half of green cards were issued annually through this process.

USCIS emphasised that the temporary visa system requires individuals to leave the country once their authorised stay expires and should not be used as an initial step in the immigration process.

The agency also stated that the change would enable it to redirect limited resources toward other case categories, including applications from victims of violent crimes, victims of human trafficking, and naturalisation requests.

The policy shift comes as the administration has continued to tighten migration and border controls following Trump’s return to the White House. Among the most stringent measures introduced are entry restrictions and financial guarantee requirements for visa issuance, affecting several countries in the Middle East and Africa.

By Tamilla Hasanova