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United States President Donald Trump has introduced a major immigration policy change directing Nigerians and other foreign nationals seeking permanent residency in the US to return to their home countries to complete their green card applications. The new directive, announced through the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, effectively ends the long-standing adjustment-of-status process that allowed many applicants already living in America to apply for permanent residency without leaving the country. 
Under the new policy, foreign nationals currently residing in the United States on temporary visas such as student, work, tourist, or exchange visas will generally be required to depart the US and continue their immigrant visa processing through American embassies or consulates in their countries of origin. USCIS stated that only applicants facing “extraordinary circumstances” may still qualify to complete the process from within the United States. Officials argued that the move is intended to restore what they described as the “original intent” of immigration laws and reduce abuse of the system. 
The policy has generated anxiety among immigrants, international students, skilled workers, and families already living in the US, particularly because leaving the country could expose some applicants to long visa delays, re-entry complications, or outright denials. Immigration lawyers and advocacy organisations warned that the new rules may separate families for extended periods and create additional uncertainty for workers employed by American companies. Critics also argued that applicants from countries facing visa restrictions or slow embassy processing could face even greater hardship under the revised system. 
The latest measure is part of a broader tightening of immigration policies under Trump’s second administration, which has already introduced stricter visa vetting procedures and new travel-related restrictions affecting several countries, including Nigeria. Analysts believe the green card directive could face legal challenges in the coming months as immigration groups and affected applicants push back against what many describe as one of the most significant changes to the US immigration process in decades. 
