Waiting for Green Card? Return to your country first: Trump admin ends ‘loophole’

The Trump administration has ended a policy that permitted certain green card applicants to remain in the United States while their applications were pending, according to an official announcement. The change requires those waiting for permanent residency to return to their home countries until their cases are processed.

The policy, which the administration described as a loophole, had allowed applicants to stay in the U.S. after filing for adjustment of status. Under the new rule, applicants must depart the country and wait abroad for their green card applications to be adjudicated.

The move is part of broader efforts by the administration to tighten immigration enforcement and reduce what it views as abuses of the system. Critics argue that the change will cause hardship for families and disrupt the lives of applicants who have been living and working in the U.S. for years.

The rule applies to applicants who are in the U.S. without lawful status or who have overstayed their visas. It does not affect those who are eligible to adjust status while remaining in the country, such as immediate relatives of U.S. citizens.