Washington D.C. – National Iranian American Council (NIAC) is deeply concerned by a new guidance from USCIS requiring foreign nationals to pursue adjustment of status through consular processing outside the United States — a reversal of longstanding practice that would have uniquely catastrophic consequences for Iranian nationals.
“This isn’t a bureaucratic tweak — it’s a trap,” said NIAC President Jamal Abdi. “The administration is telling Iranians who have built their lives here legally: leave. And once you do, you’re not coming back.”
Because there is no U.S. consulate in Iran and hence Iranians are required to travel to a third country to apply for U.S. immigration benefits, any process to adjust status outside the U.S. will be particularly cumbersome for Iranians. And because there is a travel ban and an immigration processing pause for Iranians, any Iranian who leaves the U.S. to pursue an adjustment of status would face significant hurdles to returning.
“This policy could affect Iranians across every walk of life — students who transfer schools, people who become engaged to U.S. citizens, researchers, professionals, anyone pursuing a green card after years of following the rules, ” said Abdi. “Does the Trump administration seriously expect that Iranian nationals legally in the U.S. will return to their country in the midst of a war and naval blockade imposed by Trump to apply for an adjustment of status that would likely never come?
NIAC has documented the compounding immigration restrictions targeting Iranians, including the June 2025 travel ban, which data shows has virtually ended nonimmigrant visa issuance to Iranians, and a January tightening of that ban that further restricted immigrant visas. The new USCIS guidance adds another layer to what NIAC describes as a concerted effort to demolish legal immigration pathways for Iranian nationals.
“This administration has spent two years methodically sealing every door through travel bans and processing pauses,” said Abdi. Taken together with this new guidance, these do not appear to be coincidental policy choices but rather a campaign to demolish the legal pathways for Iranians to immigrate to the United States — and to force those already here to leave.
Legal challenges to the new guidance are expected and may prove successful. NIAC urges all Iranians in the United States who could be affected to consult an immigration attorney before taking any action that could affect their status. NIAC staff are available to connect community members with legal resources at [email protected].
NIAC Experts Available for Comment:
Jamal Abdi is the President of the National Iranian American Council, and Founder & Executive Director of NIAC Action. Previously, he worked as a Policy Advisor in the US Congress and has been featured in the NYT, Foreign Policy, CNN, BBC and more. Jamal has over 15 years of political expertise monitoring US-Iran relations, foreign policy, national security and immigration issues. He can be reached directly at 206-369-2069 or [email protected].
Ryan Costello is the Policy Director at NIAC & NIAC Action and works with policymakers, monitors legislation, conducts research and writing, and coordinates advocacy efforts. His work has been published in The National Interest, Defense One, The Huffington Post, The Hill and more. Ryan has over 10 years of expertise in nuclear nonproliferation, US-Iran relations, foreign policy, and engaging with policymakers in the administration and on Capitol Hill. He can be reached directly at 703-963-1901 or [email protected].
For all other press inquires contact NIAC at [email protected]
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NIAC Action is the largest grassroots Iranian-American organization
advocating for peace & diplomacy, secure equitable immigration policies, and the protection of civil rights.
Learn more at www.niacouncil.org.