New directive ends in-country adjustment pathway for many temporary visa holders as critics warn policy could disrupt families, students, and legal migrants
By A1NEWS International / May 22, 2026
WASHINGTON, D.C. —The administration of Donald Trump has introduced a major immigration policy shift requiring Nigerians and other foreign nationals seeking United States permanent residency to return to their home countries for green card processing, except under what authorities described as “extraordinary circumstances.”
The controversial directive, announced by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services on Friday, marks a significant tightening of immigration procedures affecting thousands of temporary visa holders already residing legally in the United States.
Under the new framework, applicants seeking adjustment of immigration status from within the U.S. will largely be required to complete the process through American consular offices abroad under the supervision of the United States Department of State.
Trump Administration Pushes Return to “Original Intent” of Immigration Law
In a statement announcing the policy, USCIS argued that the move was intended to restore what officials described as the “original intent” of American immigration law.
“We’re returning to the original intent of the law to ensure aliens navigate our nation’s immigration system properly,” the agency stated.
“From now on, an alien who is in the U.S. temporarily and wants a Green Card must return to their home country to apply, except in extraordinary circumstances.”
The new directive is expected to directly affect nonimmigrant visa holders, including international students, temporary workers, tourists, and other short-term residents who traditionally sought permanent residency while remaining inside the United States.
Nigerians Among Those Likely to Be Heavily Impacted
Immigration analysts say Nigerians are likely to be among the hardest-hit groups due to the large number of Nigerian students, professionals, healthcare workers, and skilled migrants currently residing in the United States on temporary visas.
Many had previously relied on adjustment-of-status procedures that allowed eligible applicants to remain in the country while their green card applications were processed.
The new policy could now force applicants to leave the U.S., return to Nigeria, and face lengthy consular processing timelines abroad.
Critics warn that the change may create financial hardship, family separation risks, and uncertainty for migrants already integrated into American educational and professional systems.
USCIS Says Policy Will Reduce Illegal Overstays
USCIS spokesman Zach Kahler defended the decision, arguing that the previous system encouraged visa overstays after unsuccessful residency applications.
“This policy allows our immigration system to function as the law intended instead of incentivising loopholes,” Kahler said.
“When aliens apply from their home country, it reduces the need to find and remove those who decide to slip into the shadows and remain in the U.S. illegally after being denied residency.”
The agency also stated that temporary visa categories were never designed to serve as automatic pathways to permanent residency.
“Nonimmigrants, like students, temporary workers, or people on tourist visas, come to the U.S. for a short time and for a specific purpose,” USCIS stated.
“Their visit should not function as the first step in the Green Card process.”
Immigration Lawyers Warn of Operational and Human Consequences
Immigration experts say the policy could place enormous pressure on already congested U.S. embassies and consular offices across Africa and Asia.
Lawyers also warn that applicants who leave the United States may face visa re-entry complications, administrative delays, or denials that could disrupt careers, education, and family stability.
Analysts note that many foreign nationals currently in the United States have built lives around the assumption that adjustment-of-status procedures would remain available under federal immigration law.
“There’s concern this policy could create uncertainty for legal migrants who followed existing processes in good faith,” a Washington-based immigration attorney told A1NEWS International.
Broader Immigration Crackdown Continues
The latest directive appears to be part of a broader tightening of immigration policy under the Trump administration.
In December 2025, the administration reportedly suspended green card and citizenship processing for Nigerians and nationals from several other countries added to the U.S. travel restriction list.
According to reports, the freeze affected immigrants from multiple African and Asian countries, including individuals already living legally in the United States.
The administration later expanded restrictions by directing USCIS to halt immigration petitions from nationals of 19 countries covered under the travel ban announced in June.
The policy followed a Thanksgiving-week shooting incident in Washington, D.C., allegedly linked to an Afghan national, which intensified security debates surrounding immigration enforcement.
Questions Over Diplomatic and Economic Impact
The development is expected to generate diplomatic and economic implications for countries heavily affected by the restrictions.
For Nigeria, analysts warn the policy could affect educational migration, professional mobility, diaspora family reunification, and remittance-linked economic activities.
There are also concerns that extended processing times at U.S. embassies could increase application backlogs and encourage irregular migration alternatives among desperate applicants.
USCIS Says Resources Will Be Redirected
USCIS officials argued that processing residency applications abroad would free up agency resources for other immigration priorities.
According to the agency, personnel would now be able to dedicate greater attention to:
- Human trafficking cases
- Victims of violent crimes
- Naturalisation applications
- Humanitarian immigration services
- Enforcement-related immigration reviews
Officials insist the changes are aimed at making the system “fairer and more efficient.”
The Trump administration’s latest immigration directive signals one of the most significant changes to green card processing procedures in recent years.
While supporters view the move as a necessary tightening of immigration controls and enforcement, critics argue it could impose severe humanitarian, financial, and administrative burdens on legal migrants already living in the United States.
For thousands of Nigerians pursuing permanent residency, the policy may fundamentally alter the path to achieving the American dream.
![Nigerian military prepares to cordon the area where a man was killed by suspected rebel fighters during an attack around the Polo area of Maiduguri, Nigeria, in 2019 [File: Afolabi Sotunde/Reuters]](https://a1news.com.ng/wp/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Nigeria-military-on-patrol.webp)
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