The policy marks a strategic pivot from in-country adjustments to consular processing as the primary route to a Green Card.

Overall, access to permanent residency is narrowed, reducing the likelihood of obtaining a Green Card for those already in the U.S. without departing.

Under the new rule, the majority of temporarily in-country individuals must return to their home country to apply at a U.S. embassy or consulate.

A major policy change ends in-country adjustments for many applicants, forcing them to leave the United States to pursue Green Card status.

The impact will be most felt by international students on temporary visas, workers with temporary permissions, and certain tourist visa holders.

The move follows a Trump-era policy shift that restricts adjustment of status as a path to permanent residency.