US Tightens Green Card Rules, Ends In-Country Adjustment Pathway
The United States government has introduced new immigration guidance aimed at restricting the ability of migrants to transition from temporary visa status to permanent residency while remaining within the country.
The policy, issued by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), directs that applicants for lawful permanent residency should generally complete the process from outside the United States by obtaining immigrant visas through U.S. diplomatic missions abroad.
Under the revised framework, in-country adjustment of status will be considered only in exceptional cases, with immigration officers required to conduct stricter assessments on eligibility and security considerations.
The move is intended to reinforce the distinction between temporary admission and permanent residency and to streamline immigration processing, according to officials.
USCIS also stated that the change is aimed at reducing system abuse and ensuring that only applicants who fully meet legal requirements are granted permanent residency benefits.
The policy forms part of broader efforts to tighten immigration enforcement and restructure how green card applications are processed.
