Washington has banned foreigners from applying for a green card within the United States
Foreign nationals who wish to obtain confirmation of their permanent resident status and the right to work in the United States (a green card) may file the relevant applications only from outside the United States. This is stated in a new memorandum from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
This was reported by SpectrumlocalNews.
“From now on, a foreign national who is temporarily in the U.S. and wishes to obtain a green card must return to their home country to file an application,” said USCIS spokesperson Zach Kaler.
He noted that exceptions to this rule are possible only under “extraordinary circumstances,” so students, temporary workers, and tourists who come to the U.S. for a specific purpose and for a limited time should not view their visit as the first step in the process of obtaining a green card.
According to Kaler, filing applications from other countries will free up USCIS resources for other tasks and “reduce the need to track down and deport those who decide to go underground and remain in the U.S. illegally after being denied a green card.”
As a reminder, on April 4, 2026, in Washington, D.C., U.S. federal agents detained the niece and great-granddaughter of the late Iranian military commander Qasem Soleimani after Secretary of State Marco Rubio revoked their permanent resident status. This is an important step in tightening controls over individuals linked to Iran.
Since December 26, the U.S. has tightened entry rules for all green card holders and visa holders. Now, non-citizens, including children and the elderly, must have their photo taken and may be required to provide fingerprints and undergo eye scans every time they cross the border.
The U.S. has suspended the green card lottery program because the suspect in the Brown University shooting entered the country through that program, said U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem.
