The administration of Donald Trump has introduced a new immigration policy requiring Nigerians and other foreign nationals seeking permanent residency in the United States to return to their home countries to complete the green card application process, except in “extraordinary circumstances.”
The policy shift was announced on Friday by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, which said the move is intended to restore the original framework of US immigration law.
Under the new directive, individuals currently attempting to adjust their immigration status from within the United States will now be required to process their permanent residency applications through US consular offices abroad under the supervision of the Department of State.
“We’re returning to the original intent of the law to ensure aliens navigate our nation’s immigration system properly,” USCIS stated. “From now on, an alien who is in the US temporarily and wants a Green Card must return to their home country to apply, except in extraordinary circumstances.”
According to USCIS, the policy is aimed at strengthening compliance with immigration procedures and reducing the number of unsuccessful applicants who remain in the country after their applications are denied.
USCIS spokesman Zach Kahler said the new rule would help curb abuse of the immigration system and discourage unlawful stays in the United States.
“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 remain in the U.S. illegally after being denied residency.”
The agency explained that the directive will primarily affect nonimmigrant visa holders, including international students, temporary workers, and tourists who entered the United States for short-term or specific purposes.
“Nonimmigrants, like students, temporary workers, or people on tourist visas, come to the US 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.”
USCIS also argued that handling applications through overseas consular offices would allow the agency to redirect resources toward other immigration-related responsibilities, including applications involving victims of violent crimes, survivors of human trafficking, and naturalisation requests.
The latest directive comes amid broader immigration restrictions under the Trump administration. In December 2025, the administration temporarily suspended the processing of green card and citizenship applications submitted by Nigerians and nationals of several other countries affected by a US travel ban, according to reports by CBS News.
That suspension affected legal immigration applications already being processed by USCIS and targeted applicants from selected African and Asian countries, many of whom were legally residing in the United States while seeking permanent residency or citizenship.
The administration also directed USCIS to halt immigration petitions, including permanent residency and naturalisation applications, from nationals of 19 countries covered by a travel ban announced in June. The decision followed a Thanksgiving week shooting incident in Washington, D.C., in which two National Guard soldiers were injured. US authorities alleged that an Afghan national carried out the attack.
The new policy is expected to affect thousands of prospective immigrants, including Nigerians, who may now be required to leave the United States and complete their residency applications through American diplomatic missions in their home countries.
