New U.S. Green Card Policy Could Impact Canadians Seeking Permanent Residency: Lawyer
The shift could affect hundreds of thousands of immigrants and send most applicants to already overburdened U.S. consulates abroad, lawyers said.
- On Friday, President Donald Trump's administration announced a policy requiring most green card applicants to leave the United States and complete the process from their home countries, significantly altering the "adjustment of status" process.
- USCIS spokesperson Zach Kahler stated the policy "allows our immigration system to function as the law intended instead of incentivizing loopholes," aiming to reduce illegal immigration after green card denials.
- About 1.4 million green cards were issued in 2024, with more than 820,000 approvals going to applicants already inside the United States through "adjustment of status," including nearly 160,000 in Washington over the last decade.
- Immigration lawyers expressed immediate confusion regarding what constitutes "extraordinary circumstances," prompting expectations of legal challenges and warnings that consulate backlogs could cause months or years of family separations.
- Forcing applicants to leave could trigger three- or 10-year bars to reentry for those living illegally in the country for more than six months, said Seattle University adjunct law professor Jay Gairson, while officers must weigh family ties in decisions.
52 Articles
52 Articles
The Toronto Star
New U.S. green card policy could impact Canadians seeking permanent residency: lawyer
A new U.S. policy requiring most foreigners to apply for green cards from their home countries may cause long waits and complications for Canadians living in the U.S. seeking permanent
What smart people are saying about the new green card crackdown
A US Citizenship and Immigration Services mockup of a green card.USCIS via APTrump's new policy could force many immigrants to apply for green cards from outside the US.USCIS may grant exceptions for immigrants who offer economic benefits or serve national interests.Experts say Trump's policy could disrupt mixed-status families and long-term visa holders.President Donald Trump's latest immigration crackdown is triggering alarm, confusion, and fi…
Trump Makes Major Changes to Green Card Applications. Here's What To Know
The U.S. Department Of Homeland Security logo is displayed on a sign at a Citizenship and Immigration Services office on January 16, 2026 in San Diego, CA. —Kevin Carter—Getty ImagesMost people applying for green cards from within the United States will be required to leave the country and apply through consulates abroad under sweeping changes announced by the Trump Administration this week.The move will dramatically complicate the process for h…
NEW: Trump Admin Unleashes Bold Green Card Reform That Could Send Thousands Home
The recent regulatory changes from the Trump administration could significantly impact thousands of individuals currently in the U.S. seeking to adjust their immigration status. The reform requires many green card applicants to return to their home countries while their applications are processed— a move the administration argues restores compliance with existing immigration laws. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services outlined in a news rele…
Requests for a permanent residence permit should be made from your country of origin, with many more slowness and complications
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