US tightens residency permit policy for foreign nationals

Washington — The United States is adopting a new approach to granting permanent resident status, which will now be awarded only in exceptional circumstances, according to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) on Friday, 22 May.

“USCIS today announced a policy memorandum reaffirming that, in line with immigration law and longstanding immigration court rulings, foreign nationals applying for status adjustment must do so through consular processing via the Department of State outside the United States,” the statement said.

Immigration officers are now instructed to assess all relevant factors on a case‑by‑case basis to determine whether a foreign national can obtain such extraordinary relief.

The memorandum also states that foreign nationals who enter the United States on temporary visas or for humanitarian reasons are required to depart after their authorised stay ends. Attempts to remain and apply for adjustment of status from within the United States will be treated as a negative factor in the case assessment.

The Adjustment of Status procedure allows foreign nationals already in the United States to obtain lawful permanent resident status, or a green card, without leaving the country, as an alternative to the standard consular process and enabling applicants to obtain legal status without returning home and undergoing an interview at a U.S. embassy abroad.

Data from RIA Novosti indicate that by the end of 2025, more than 1.2 million people were still awaiting decisions on their adjustment applications.