US Ends In-Country Green Card Status Adjustment, Applicants Must Return Home
The US government has announced that most foreign nationals on temporary visas can no longer adjust their status to permanent residency without leaving the country. From May 22, 2026, applicants must return to their home countries and complete consular processing abroad. This change ends the longstanding “adjustment of status” process, which previously allowed over 800,000 people a year to secure green cards while remaining in the US. Officials say this aligns with Congress’s intent that nonimmigrants depart once their visa purpose is fulfilled. Immigration experts warn that consular processing often involves much longer waits, risks family separation, and could be impossible for nationals of certain countries where US consular services are suspended. Legal challenges are expected, with attorneys arguing that the Immigration and Nationality Act authorizes in-country status adjustments.
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