The United States has tightened rules for obtaining green cards, requiring most foreign nationals to apply for permanent residency from outside the country.
The new guidance from USCIS states that applicants who are temporarily in the US must generally return to their home countries to complete the process, except in “exceptional circumstances.”
The agency says the change is intended to reduce cases where individuals remain in the US after being denied permanent residency and then become difficult to remove.
USCIS spokesperson Zach Kahler said short-term visitors such as students, tourists and temporary workers should not assume their stay is a pathway to a green card.
He added that requiring applications from abroad would reduce the need for enforcement actions against those who overstay after denial.
Former USCIS official Doug Rand said about one million people apply for green cards each year, with roughly half previously applying while already inside the United States.
