U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced that most green‑card seekers now must file from abroad, forcing temporary residents to return home and apply at a consulate. The rule shifts the process from within the country to overseas, a move that will reshape how firms source talent and veterans of the tech sector adapt.

Tech leaders argue the change will hurt hiring, citing LinkedIn co‑founder Reid Hoffman’s warning that AI researchers and engineers may face backlogs and geographic limits. The policy follows earlier H‑1B adjustments that prioritize higher‑paid foreign workers, tightening the labor market that has fueled U.S. innovation.

Critics note the rule could disproportionately affect students, spouses of citizens, and workers from countries lacking U.S. consulates, such as Russia. The DHS has already paused asylum adjudications and tightened visa allocations, signaling a broader strategy to curb immigration flows.

Business Roundtable representatives declined comment, but companies already feel the pressure. Firms that rely on international talent risk slower project timelines and increased compliance costs, tightening margins in an industry that depends on rapid innovation and maintain competitive edge in the global market.