Trump Administration Shifts Green Card Application Process for Visa Holders

Why it matters locally: California, home to nearly 27% of all U.S. visa holders and a major hub for tech, healthcare, and agricultural industries that rely on skilled immigrant workers, could face significant labor market disruptions if implementation reduces the ability of companies to retain visa-holding employees during green card processing.

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The Trump administration announced Friday that individuals holding temporary visas must return to their country of origin to apply for green cards. Officials said this requirement applies to those seeking to adjust their immigration status for permanent residency. The previous process permitted some non-immigrant visa holders to apply for green cards while remaining in the United States. The new policy mandates that these individuals pursue their applications through consular processing in their home countries. This involves applying at a U.S. embassy or consulate abroad. Details of the policy implementation and effective date were not immediately available.