Immigration Lawyers Say USCIS Green Card Memo Rattled Clients

Key Points:

• On Friday, USCIS announced new guidance restricting "adjustment of status" green card applications to only "extraordinary circumstances," potentially forcing many immigrants to leave the US to complete their applications abroad.
• The memo caused immediate concern and confusion among immigration lawyers and their clients, who scrambled over the holiday weekend to understand the impact on pending cases and future applications.
• USCIS stated the new policy likely won't affect applicants whose work provides economic or national interest benefits, but uncertainty remains high for many visa holders, including tech workers, startup founders, and physicians.
• Lawyers warned that consular processing outside the US can be slow and unpredictable, posing challenges for employers and employees who may have to leave their jobs for extended periods.
• The announcement has been compared to past abrupt immigration policy changes, and while some attorneys remain cautiously optimistic, many clients are experiencing anxiety and fatigue amid unclear guidance.