Nigerians and other foreign nationals in the United States seeking to change their status from temporary visa holders to permanent residents may soon be required to return to their home country to apply for a Green Card.
The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), in a statement on Friday, said the country is returning to its “original intent” immigration law by mandating that non-immigrants apply for permanent residency from their home countries rather than the US.
This move is the latest in the Donald Trump administration’s broader crackdown on immigration. It comes several months after the US imposed a ban across several visa categories on Nigeria and 14 other countries.
PREMIUM TIMES reported that the administration, through a presidential proclamation, barred entry for Nigerians seeking to enter the US as green card holders, or on B‑1, B‑2, B‑1/B‑2, F, M, and J visas. The US government attributed the travel restrictions on Nigeria to security concerns and to difficulties in vetting Nigerian nationals.
The policy primarily affected foreigners seeking entry into the country, and not those already in the US. However, if the new directive comes into effect, it could significantly alter the status adjustment process for non-immigrants already residing in the country.
