Tagged #policy-memo
Every article we've published on this topic, sorted by the agency's own announcement date.
DHS Removes 2022 Public Charge Rule: What Practitioners Need to Know
On July 20, 2026, DHS announced removal of the 2022 Public Charge rule effective September 18, 2026. New guidance will come via the USCIS Policy Manual, but the loss of structured standards creates uncertainty for green card applicants.
USCIS Clarifies H-2A Eligibility for Dairy Operations
DHS and Department of Labor issue policy memorandum confirming dairy farms can petition for H-2A agricultural workers when demonstrating qualifying temporary or seasonal labor needs. Petitions evaluated on case-by-case basis.
Trump administration memo restricts green card applications filed in the U.S.
USCIS policy memo PM-602-0199 requires most green card applicants to apply through consular processing abroad except in extraordinary circumstances. Learn what changed and how to advise clients.
Federal Court Vacates USCIS Adjudication Pause for 39-Country Nationals
District court in Rhode Island vacates USCIS policy memos pausing immigration benefit adjudications. Cases now eligible to resume processing.
USCIS Limits Adjustment of Status to Extraordinary Circumstances
USCIS announces new policy restricting adjustment of status applications in the U.S., requiring most applicants to pursue green cards through consular processing abroad.
USCIS Green Card Policy Reversal: Applicants Now Required to Apply From Home Countries
USCIS policy memo restricts on-U.S. green card applications. Practitioners must now advise clients to file overseas, with limited exceptions. Major shift in consular processing vs. adjustment of status strategy.
USCIS Limits Green Card Adjustment of Status to Extraordinary Circumstances
USCIS policy memo requires most visa holders to pursue green cards through consular processing abroad, not adjustment of status in the US. Major shift affects employment, family-based, and humanitarian applications.
USCIS Issues Stricter Adjustment of Status Policy Memo
USCIS PM-602-0199 reframes adjustment of status as extraordinary discretionary relief, requiring officers to apply heightened scrutiny. What practitioners need to know about the shift.
USCIS Tightens Adjustment of Status: Non-immigrant Visa Holders Must Return Home to Apply for Green Cards
USCIS issued a policy memo in May 2026 restricting adjustment of status eligibility. Nonimmigrants with temporary visas seeking permanent residence must now apply through consular processing outside the U.S., except in extraordinary circumstances. Immigration practitioners must understand the retroactive application and heightened discretionary standard.
USCIS Reframes Adjustment of Status as Discretionary "Extraordinary" Relief
Policy Memo PM-602-0199 (May 21, 2026) instructs officers to apply heightened discretionary scrutiny to Form I-485 applications, shifting the practical standard even though statute and eligibility rules remain unchanged.
USCIS Policy Memo PM-602-0199: Adjustment of Status Now Treated as Discretionary Relief
USCIS reframes adjustment of status as extraordinary discretionary relief, not an entitlement. Immigration practitioners must now build comprehensive discretionary cases even for statutorily eligible applicants.
USCIS Reframes Adjustment of Status as Discretionary Relief—What Your I-485 Clients Need to Know
USCIS Policy Memo PM-602-0199 (May 21, 2026) directs officers to treat I-485 adjustment of status as discretionary relief, not routine. Learn what changes for pending and future green card applications.
USCIS Memo Raises Bar for Adjustment of Status, May Force Green Card Applicants Abroad
USCIS issued PM-602-0199 on May 21 raising the standard for in-country green card applications, creating uncertainty about who can adjust status domestically versus who must apply abroad.
USCIS Reframes Adjustment of Status as Extraordinary Discretionary Relief
USCIS policy memo PM-602-0199 recharacterizes adjustment of status as extraordinary relief requiring favorable exercise of discretion, directing officers to weigh totality of circumstances and flagging conduct-based adverse factors.
USCIS Policy Memo on Adjustment of Status: Discretion and Grace, Not an Entitlement
USCIS issued policy memo PM-602-0199 on May 21, 2026, reframing adjustment of status (I-485) as discretionary relief requiring case-by-case analysis. Practitioners need to understand the new evidentiary burden and discretionary factors officers will apply.
USCIS Reframes Adjustment of Status as "Extraordinary" Relief—What Practitioners Need to Know
On May 21, USCIS issued Policy Memo PM-602-0199 recharacterizing adjustment of status as discretionary "extraordinary" relief, likely requiring most green card applicants to return abroad for consular processing. Learn what changed, the legal uncertainty, and immediate next steps.
USCIS Green Card Policy Shift Requires U.S.-Based Adjustment of Status to Meet Higher Bar
USCIS issued Policy Memorandum PM-602-0199 on May 21, 2026, treating in-country adjustment of status as extraordinary relief. Learn how the new guidance affects your green card strategy and filing timeline.
USCIS Issues New Adjustment of Status Policy Memo: What Green Card Applicants Need to Know
USCIS issued Policy Memorandum PM-602-0199 on May 21, 2026, emphasizing discretionary factors in Adjustment of Status (Form I-485) adjudication. Immigration practitioners should understand the new emphasis on individualized assessment and equities evaluation.
USCIS Limits Adjustment of Status to "Extraordinary Circumstances" — What Practitioners Need to Know
USCIS issued Policy Memorandum PM-602-0199 on May 21, 2026, declaring adjustment of status an extraordinary discretionary benefit. The memo applies retroactively to pending cases and signals heightened scrutiny of all AOS applications.
USCIS Reframes Adjustment of Status as Discretionary Extraordinary Relief
USCIS issues policy memo PM-602-0199 recharacterizing adjustment of status as discretionary administrative grace, not automatic. Practitioners must now expect heightened scrutiny and stronger discretionary showings in AOS cases.
USCIS Policy Memo PM-602-0199: What the New Discretion Framework Means for Green Card Applicants
USCIS issued Policy Memo PM-602-0199 on May 21, 2026, reframing adjustment of status as discretionary relief. Learn what changed, who it affects, and what to do if your I-485 is pending or planned.