The United States has directed Nigerians and other foreign nationals seeking permanent residency through Green Cards to return to their home countries to complete the application process, in a move aimed at tightening immigration procedures.
In a statement issued on Friday, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) said the policy was intended to restore what it described as the “original intent” of US immigration law.
USCIS spokesman Zach Kahler said the decision would help reduce the number of migrants who remain illegally in the country after unsuccessful residency applications.
According to the agency, except in extraordinary circumstances, foreigners applying for adjustment of status will now be required to process their residency applications through US consular offices abroad under the supervision of the US Department of State.
“We’re returning to the original intent of the law to ensure aliens navigate our nation’s immigration system properly,” the statement read.
“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.”
Kahler said the new directive would discourage abuse of immigration loopholes and strengthen compliance with visa regulations.
“This policy allows our immigration system to function as the law intended instead of incentivising loopholes. 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,” he said.
The agency explained that the policy would mainly affect temporary visitors, including students, tourists and workers on nonimmigrant visas.
“Nonimmigrants, like students, temporary workers, or people on tourist visas, come to the U.S. for a short time and for a specific purpose. Our system is designed for them to leave when their visit is over. Their visit should not function as the first step in the Green Card process,” the statement added.
USCIS also argued that processing residency applications through overseas consular offices would allow the agency to focus more resources on other immigration priorities, including cases involving victims of violent crimes, human trafficking survivors, naturalisation requests and related services.
“The law was written this way for a reason, and despite the fact that it has been ignored for years, following it will help make our system fairer and more efficient,” the agency stated.
The latest directive follows an earlier move by the Trump administration in December 2025 to temporarily halt the processing of Green Card and citizenship applications filed by Nigerians and nationals of other countries affected by the US travel ban.
According to CBS News, the suspension affected legal immigration applications handled by USCIS and targeted immigrants from several African and Asian countries.
Many of those impacted were already living legally in the United States and were seeking permanent residency or American citizenship.
The administration also instructed USCIS to freeze all immigration petitions, including applications for permanent residency and citizenship, from nationals of 19 countries covered under the expanded travel ban announced in June.
