The Trump administration has introduced a significant change to the green card application process. Most foreigners looking to obtain green cards must now apply from outside the United States. This policy marks a departure from the standard practice, which allowed many to apply while residing in the U.S. on temporary visas.

This new requirement affects a substantial number of individuals. Hundreds of thousands of people previously filed their applications annually under the older system. Immigration lawyers warn that this shift represents an intensified effort by the administration to reduce legal migration.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Director Joseph Edlow addressed the change from the agency’s headquarters in Camp Springs, Maryland. The policy update signifies not just a procedural adjustment but also a strategic aim to curb the flow of legal immigration.