How At Risk Is Your Immigration Status in 2026? The Green Card Policy Change Explained

# How At Risk Is Your Immigration Status in 2026? The Green Card Policy Change Explained

> **Quick answer:** The Trump administration's USCIS Policy Memo PM-602-0199, issued May 22, 2026, effectively ended the domestic green card adjustment of status pathway for most visa holders. Your risk level depends on your visa type, immigration history, and whether you have a pending I-485. The four risk profiles — Low, Moderate, High, and Critical — are defined by factors like dual intent, unlawful presence history, home-country consular timelines, and whether leaving the US would trigger a 3-year or 10-year re-entry bar. Immediate relatives of US citizens remain the most protected group. F-1 students, overstay-adjacent cases, and Indian/Chinese EB backlog holders face the highest exposure.

*This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Consult a qualified immigration attorney for guidance specific to your situation.*

On May 22, 2026, the Trump administration upended 50 years of US immigration practice with a single policy memo. If you are on an H-1B, F-1, L-1, O-1, or virtually any other temporary visa and planning to apply for a green card, your **immigration status risk in 2026** just changed dramatically. This guide breaks down who is most exposed, what the risk factors are, and — critically — what each risk level means for your next move.

## What USCIS Policy Memo PM-602-0199 Actually Changed

For decades, most green card applicants in the United States used a process called **adjustment of status (AOS)**: file Form I-485 with USCIS while living in the US, wait for approval, get your green card without ever leaving. Approximately 500,000 people used this pathway annually.