US Green Card applicants who 'benefit' economy may be exempt from new policy

US Green Card applicants who 'benefit' economy may be exempt from new policy Submitted by MEE staff on Tue, 05/26/2026 - 20:43 Trump administration decided last week that immigrants could no longer adjust their status while remaining in US A view of the US Capitol dome in Washington, DC, on 20 May 2026 (Elizabeth Frantz/Reuters) Off US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has clarified that some would-be immigrants deemed an "economic benefit" to the country may be allowed to adjust their status to a Green Card without having to fly home first. It follows outrage from immigration attorneys and advocacy groups after the Trump administration on Friday decided that potentially tens of millions of visa holders in the US, including international students, temporary workers, refugees, and even those with American spouses, could no longer file paperwork to obtain a Green Card while remaining in the US. They would now have to leave the country, apply through an embassy, and wait for what could be years before the case is resolved.