United States President, Donald Trump, has directed that Nigerians and other foreign nationals seeking permanent residency in the US must return to their home countries to complete the green card application process, except under what authorities describe as “extraordinary circumstances.”
The policy shift was announced on Friday by the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), which said the measure is intended to restore the original framework of US immigration law.
In a statement, the agency said individuals seeking to adjust their immigration status from within the United States would now be required to process their 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.
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“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.”
The agency said the new approach would reinforce compliance with immigration procedures and reduce the number of unsuccessful applicants who remain in the country after their cases are denied.
USCIS spokesman Zach Kahler said the policy would help prevent abuse of the immigration system and discourage unlawful stays.
“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.”
According to USCIS, the policy will primarily affect holders of nonimmigrant visas, including international students, temporary workers and tourists, who enter the United States for specific and limited purposes.
“Nonimmigrants, like students, temporary workers, or people on tourist visas, come to the US for a short time and for a specific purpose,” the agency said.
“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 agency also argued that processing applications through overseas consular offices would allow USCIS to redirect resources to other immigration-related responsibilities.
USCIS said the change would enable it to devote more attention to applications involving victims of violent crimes, human trafficking survivors, naturalisation requests and other services within its mandate.
“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 statement added.
The latest directive comes amid a broader tightening of immigration policies 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 that were added to a U.S. travel ban, according to reports by CBS News.
The suspension affected legal immigration applications handled by USCIS and largely targeted applicants from selected African and Asian countries. Many of those impacted were already residing legally in the United States and were seeking permanent residency or U.S. citizenship.
The administration also instructed USCIS to halt immigration petitions, including applications for permanent residency and naturalisation, from nationals of 19 countries covered by a travel ban announced in June.
The move followed a shooting incident in Washington, D.C., during Thanksgiving week in which two National Guard soldiers were injured. U.S. authorities alleged that the attack was carried out by an Afghan national.
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 countries of origin.
