The Trump administration unexpectedly announced it would require most foreigners seeking green cards to leave the United States to apply for residency. The new policy mandates that people submit applications for legal permanent residency to American consulates in their home countries, “except in extraordinary circumstances,” rather than remain in the United States while the process is pending. The guidance affects visa holders generally, but it could have an impact on international students and scholars seeking to change their visa status to stay on in the United States. The change would effectively lock out applicants from countries subject to travel bans or where visa issuances are paused, such as Iran and Nigeria. It also could exacerbate existing backlogs in processing temporary work authorizations.
