US says temporary visa holders should leave to apply for Green Cards
Key takeaways
- Authorities say Green Cards from inside US are discretionary, not automatic rights.
- “An alien who is in the US temporarily and wants a Green Card must return to their home country to apply.
- In new guidance issued on Friday, US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) said adjustment of status, obtaining permanent residency from within the US, is a discretionary benefit rather than an automatic right.
Why this matters: an international story with cross-border implications worth tracking.
Authorities say Green Cards from inside US are discretionary, not automatic rights.
xwhatsapp-strokecopylinkgoogle Add Al Jazeera on Googleinfo The US Department of Homeland Security seal at the FEMA National Response Coordination Center in Washington, DC [File: Nathan Howard/Reuters]By Elizabeth Melimopoulos and Reuters Published On 22 May 202622 May 2026The Trump administration has said foreign nationals who enter the US on temporary visas should return to their home countries if they want to apply for permanent residency, arguing that the move is aimed at reinforcing the existing legal immigration system.
Officials said the policy is intended to ensure Green Card applications follow standard immigration procedures, rather than allowing people to remain in the US while seeking permanent status through what the administration describes as “loopholes” in the system.