WASHINGTON: The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced a policy clarification stating that foreigners seeking permanent residency will generally be required to apply from outside the United States, with in-country “adjustment of status” allowed only in exceptional circumstances.

Under the new guidance, applicants on temporary visas such as students, tourists, and workers are expected to complete the green card process through consular processing at U.S. embassies or consulates abroad under the Department of State.

USCIS said immigration officers will review in-country adjustment requests on a case-by-case basis, but such approvals will be treated as extraordinary relief rather than a routine option.

Spokesperson Zach Kahler said the move is intended to restore the original intent of immigration law, reduce misuse of the system, and improve efficiency by shifting most cases to overseas processing while freeing resources for priority applications such as victims of crime and naturalization cases.