The Trump administration implemented a major shift in immigration policy, requiring most green card applicants to apply from outside the United States. USCIS described the change as a return to the original intent of federal law, affecting hundreds of thousands who currently apply from within the country on temporary visas. The guidelines instruct foreign visitors to seek permanent status through consulate offices in their home countries.

More than half of the million-plus green cards issued annually are currently processed from within the U.S. Exceptions may be granted for individuals providing "economic benefit" or in "national interest," though specifics remain unclear. Immigration attorneys predict the policy will face legal challenges, particularly affecting those from countries without U.S. diplomatic relations.

The new guidelines represent the Trump administration's most significant effort to reshape legal migration, according to experts at the Cato Institute. With the State Department already facing processing backlogs, the policy threatens to overwhelm consular operations. Critics argue the policy creates a trap for those who have legally built lives in America, potentially locking them out of returning once they leave.