US mandates Nigerians, other foreigners to return home before applying for Green Cards

Nigerians and other foreign nationals living in the United States on temporary visas may soon be required to return to their home countries before applying for permanent residency, following a new immigration policy direction announced by the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

In a statement issued on Friday, USCIS said the United States is moving back to what it described as the “original intent” of immigration law by requiring non-immigrants to pursue Green Card applications from their countries of origin rather than adjusting their status within the US.

The agency said the measure is aimed at ensuring that visitors who enter the country for temporary purposes leave once their authorised stay expires, instead of using temporary visas as a pathway to permanent residency.

“The system is designed for them to leave when their visit is over. Their visit should not function as the first step in the Green Card process,” USCIS stated.

If implemented, the policy would affect a broad category of temporary visa holders, including students, tourists, temporary workers and exchange programme participants currently residing in the United States.

For Nigerians seeking permanent residency, the proposed rule would mean returning to Nigeria to complete the Green Card application process through US consular offices.

USCIS argued that the move would reduce pressure on its resources and allow the agency to focus on other priorities, including naturalisation applications and immigration benefits for victims of violent crimes and human trafficking.

“The law was written this way for a reason, and even though it has flaws, following it will help make our system fairer and more efficient,” the agency added.

The development comes amid a broader immigration crackdown under the administration of Donald Trump.

Earlier this year, the United States imposed visa restrictions on Nigeria and 14 other countries, citing security concerns and difficulties in vetting applicants. The restrictions affected several visa categories, including tourist, student and exchange visas.

According to data from the US Census Bureau, between 460,000 and 500,000 Nigerian immigrants currently reside in the United States, making Nigerians one of the largest African immigrant populations in the country.

The proposed policy is expected to significantly tighten the process for obtaining permanent residency and could reshape immigration pathways previously available to many temporary visa holders already living in the United States.

Join Very Nigerian WhatsApp Channel
For Verified Breaking News, Exclusive Reports, Trending Stories, And Real-time Updates.
CLICk HERE TO JOIN!