USCIS has announced a major shift in how it views adjustment of status, saying that it is now an extraordinary form of relief rather than a routine option. In practical terms, many people already in the United States who want a green card may need to apply through the regular immigrant visa process from abroad unless they fit within a limited exception.
For Turkish readers planning family-based or employment-based immigration, this is a significant development. It may affect whether an applicant can remain in the United States while the case is pending, or whether they will need to plan for a return to their home country to complete the process. That makes timing, travel planning, and document readiness even more important.
The new guidance also puts a stronger emphasis on discretion. USCIS is signaling that applicants should not assume an in-country green card filing will be approved simply because they are physically in the United States. Instead, the agency appears to be applying a stricter standard and reserving approval for exceptional situations.
For families, students, and workers reading ATIIC, the practical message is to review your case early and carefully. Before making long-term plans, applicants should check whether they qualify for an exception and whether immigrant visa processing abroad may now be the more realistic route. A short delay in checking the new rule could create a much larger delay later.
Source credit: This news brief is based on reporting from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
Original headline: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Will Grant ‘Adjustment of Status’ Only in Extraordinary Circumstances
Original publication date: 2026-05-22
Original source: Read the original article.
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