The Trump administration announced Friday that noncitizens seeking permanent residency must leave the United States and apply for green cards from their home countries through consular processing, marking a significant departure from current immigration practice.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issued the new policy directive, which affects people with temporary visas who are seeking to adjust their immigration status to obtain green cards. Under existing procedures, many immigrants have been able to apply for permanent residency while remaining in the United States.

The policy change would impact what has been the most common pathway for legal immigration to the United States. Currently, many temporary visa holders, including those on work visas, student visas, and other non-immigrant categories, can pursue permanent residency without leaving the country.

USCIS characterized the new policy as "returning to the original intent of the law," according to the agency's announcement. The directive represents a major shift in how the immigration system processes applications for permanent residency.

The change would require applicants to undergo consular processing at U.S. embassies or consulates in their home countries, a process that typically involves additional documentation, interviews, and waiting periods. This could significantly extend the timeline for obtaining permanent residency and create logistical challenges for applicants who have established lives in the United States.

The announcement comes as part of broader immigration policy changes under the Trump administration, though the full implementation timeline and specific details of how the policy will be carried out were not immediately clear from Friday's announcement.