A new Trump administration policy may force people already living legally in the US to leave the country to apply for a green card, which is bad for immigrants, families, and US employers.

• The rule says people applying for green cards should process abroad at a US embassy instead of adjusting status while inside the US.
• Leaving the country can trigger a 3 or 10-year ban on coming back, so for many it is a trap.
• It affects people with spouses, kids, and jobs here, including scientists, doctors, and nurses the US needs.
• Officers are told to look harder at overstays, work violations, social media, and even whether someone secretly planned to stay when they first arrived.
• Lawyers expect heavy court challenges, and critics say it pushes top talent toward China, Europe, and other countries that are easier to live in.

Outlook: Expect lawsuits to slow or block the rule, but in the meantime green card cases will get harder, slower, and riskier.