Ololade Adeyanju/
The administration of President Donald Trump is preparing to require most foreign nationals already living in the United States to leave the country and apply for permanent residency from abroad, in a sweeping immigration policy shift that could disrupt businesses, families and the technology sector.
The new policy would sharply limit the longstanding “adjustment of status” process that has allowed many migrants legally residing in the US, including skilled workers, international students and spouses of American citizens, to obtain green cards without leaving the country.
Under the proposed rules, applicants would instead be directed to complete “consular processing” at US embassies or consulates in their home countries, unless they can demonstrate what officials described as “extraordinary circumstances”.
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services said temporary visa holders were never intended to treat their stay in the United States as the first stage of the permanent residency process.
The move marks one of the most consequential legal immigration changes of Trump’s second term and forms part of a broader crackdown that has already included tighter visa restrictions, increased deportations and enhanced scrutiny of foreign nationals.
Business leaders and immigration lawyers have warned that the measure could create severe disruptions for American employers already struggling with labour shortages, particularly in technology, healthcare and engineering sectors.
The Financial Times reported that investors and technology executives, including LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman, criticised the policy, arguing that forcing highly skilled workers to leave the country during processing could push talent to rival economies and discourage foreign investment.
Immigration attorneys also warned that applicants could face lengthy delays, visa denials and legal uncertainty once they depart the United States.
Some may become stranded abroad for months or years because of existing backlogs at American embassies and consulates.
Critics further argue that the policy could split mixed-status families and place vulnerable applicants at risk, including trafficking survivors and abuse victims who may be required to return to unsafe environments while awaiting decisions on their residency applications.
Although officials have suggested exemptions may exist for applicants deemed to provide an “economic benefit” or serve the “national interest”, the administration has not clarified how those determinations would be made.
The exact number of people who could be affected remains unclear, but several reports estimate that more than one million pending or prospective green card applicants may face the new requirements if fully implemented.
The policy has already generated confusion among immigration lawyers, many of whom say the government guidance remains vague and leaves unanswered questions about whether pending applications will be affected.
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