Trump Administration Ends In-Country Green Card Processing for Most Foreign Nationals

U.S. Immigration Policy Shift

According to Главком: The Trump administration has eliminated the option for most foreign nationals to obtain permanent residency (a green card) without leaving the United States. Effective immediately, individuals seeking a green card must return to their home countries and submit applications through U.S. consulates abroad. On Friday, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) released an internal memo reclassifying the 'adjustment of status' process as 'extraordinary.'

Impact of the New Rules on Foreign Nationals

The updated regulations affect:

• Students on temporary visas,
• Tourists and other holders of nonimmigrant permits,
• Foreigners who entered legally but overstayed their visas,
• Spouses of U.S. citizens with temporary status.

Exceptions may apply to holders of 'dual intent' visas (such as H-1B), refugees, and asylum recipients. Approximately half a million people obtain green cards annually through the adjustment of status process, and the new memo impacts around half of those cases-roughly 250,000 individuals.

These changes create additional challenges for Ukrainians, as over 100,000 Ukrainian citizens are currently in the U.S. under the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) program, and about 150,000 are present under the U4U initiative ('Uniting for Ukraine'), launched by the Biden administration. Citizens of 39 countries are also subject to a U.S. 'travel ban,' while immigrant visa issuance has been suspended for residents of 75 nations. Those who have been in the U.S. unlawfully for more than a year automatically face a ten-year reentry bar upon departure.

'This is an unprecedented step that will disrupt the plans of hundreds of thousands of families and employers each year,' said Michael Valverde, a former USCIS official.

These immigration policy changes are causing concern among many foreign nationals seeking legal status in the U.S., particularly Ukrainians looking for stable living opportunities in the country.

The introduction of new green card rules threatens the legal standing of many foreign nationals in the U.S., especially those with temporary visas. This decision could lead to an increase in the number of individuals falling into unlawful status, which in turn affects their employment prospects and social integration. Amid global political and economic instability, such immigration policy shifts pose a serious challenge for those seeking new opportunities in the United States.

The recent changes in U.S. immigration policy are part of a broader trend affecting Ukrainians abroad. As European nations are also tightening their regulations on housing and benefits for Ukrainian refugees, many are left navigating a complex landscape of legal requirements. To understand how these new challenges in the U.S. and Europe intersect, read more about the evolving situation in European countries.