The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issued a policy memo last week requiring many foreign nationals currently in the United States to leave the country and obtain green cards through their home countries, rather than adjusting their status while remaining in the US.

The policy change has generated confusion and concern among hundreds of thousands of visa holders and their families, according to immigration advocates and lawyers. Many affected individuals have built lives in the US over several years, including establishing careers, purchasing homes, and forming marriages.

Immigration attorneys report that the new requirements threaten to disrupt long-term plans for permanent residency that many foreign nationals had been pursuing while living and working legally in the United States. The memo represents a significant shift in how certain green card applications will be processed.

The policy affects individuals who previously could have adjusted their immigration status without leaving the country. Under the new guidelines, these applicants must now return to their countries of origin to complete the green card application process through US consulates or embassies abroad.

Immigration advocates say the change creates uncertainty for families and workers who have been living in the US under various visa categories while waiting for permanent residency approval. The full scope of who will be affected and the timeline for implementation remains unclear as immigration lawyers work to understand the policy's implications.