USCIS New Rule May 22 2026: I-485 RFEs Issued, Green Card Applicants Forced to Leave US

A recently issued USCIS memorandum dated May 22, 2026 is having immediate real-world consequences for immigrants with pending I-485 adjustment of status applications inside the United States. Reports from the r/greencard community indicate that Requests for Evidence (RFEs) are already being issued citing this new policy, marking a significant shift in how green card applications are being processed. The memo appears to signal a broader policy direction requiring applicants to process their green cards through consular processing at U.S. embassies or consulates in their home countries, rather than adjusting status from within the United States. This represents a fundamental change to a longstanding immigration pathway that has allowed millions of employment-based and family-based immigrants to obtain lawful permanent residence without leaving the country. For EB-3 applicants with pending I-485 petitions, this development is particularly significant. Those who have been waiting months or years for their priority dates to become current — and who have already filed their adjustment of status applications — are now potentially facing the requirement to depart the United States and complete processing abroad through a U.S. consulate. Immigration attorneys are urging affected applicants to consult legal counsel immediately before responding to any RFEs or taking action on their cases. The full scope and legal basis of the memo, including whether it applies to all pending cases or only new filings, is still being evaluated by practitioners. Applicants should monitor official USCIS channels for formal guidance and work closely with their immigration attorneys to understand how this policy change affects their individual cases, travel plans, and employment authorization.