| Photo by Anete Lūsiņa on Unsplash
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Philippine Embassy in Washington has confirmed that a newly implemented U.S. immigration policy could affect an estimated 100,000 to 200,000 Filipinos currently seeking lawful permanent residency in the United States. The Philippine Ambassador to the U.S., Jose Manuel “Babe” Romualdez, disclosed the estimate to the U.S. and said the embassy is closely monitoring the policy shift.
Adjustment of Status Now Limited
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) recently announced that adjustment of status — the process that allows eligible foreign nationals to apply for a green card while already inside the United States — will now be granted only under “extraordinary circumstances.” Consular processing abroad will again become the default pathway for immigrant visa applicants.
“Ang estimate na binigay sa akin ng mga nakakaalam ay somewhere between 100,000 to 200,000,” Romualdez told GMA News. “Siguro estimate pa lang ’yan dahil marami tayong mga Pilipino sa halos lahat ng 50 states.”
Many Applicants May Need to Return to the Philippines
Under the new rule, many Filipinos who applied for permanent residency while in the U.S. may now be required to return to the Philippines to complete their green card processing at the U.S. Embassy in Manila.
“Ngayon, hindi na puwede na intayin nila dito yung green card. Kailangan umuwi muna sila at saka doon ipoprocess,” Romualdez said.
U.S. officials explained to the embassy that the change aims to address cases involving applicants of various nationalities — not only Filipinos — who remain in the U.S. even after their petitions are denied. They also cited an overwhelmed immigration system handling millions of pending applications.
Applicants in the Philippines Unaffected
Romualdez clarified that Filipinos already in the Philippines and processing their immigrant visas through the U.S. Embassy will not be affected by the new rule. “Yung mga nasa Pilipinas, walang problema ’yun… tuloy‑tuloy pa rin ’yan,” he said.
Humanitarian exceptions may still be considered, particularly for elderly applicants or those with compelling reasons not to leave the United States.
Fil‑Am Community Voices Concern
The policy shift has sparked concern among Filipino American community leaders, many of whom say the change could cause family separation, financial strain, and legal uncertainty.
In New York and New Jersey, immigration advocates say they have already received calls from worried applicants. “This is going to hit working‑class families the hardest,” said a Fil‑Am community organizer in Queens. “People who have been waiting years may suddenly be told to leave their jobs, uproot their kids, and fly back to Manila just to finish paperwork.”
In California, where the largest concentration of Filipinos resides, community groups echoed similar concerns. “We understand the U.S. wants to manage backlogs, but the human cost is real,” said Daniel Cruz, an immigration paralegal active in the Fil‑Am community in Los Angeles. “Many of our kababayan have built stable lives here while waiting for their green cards. Forcing them to return home mid‑process creates unnecessary hardship.”
Embassy Urges Legal Guidance
The Philippine Embassy is advising affected Filipinos to consult immigration lawyers to determine whether they qualify for exemptions or extraordinary circumstances under the revised USCIS guidelines. Romualdez said the embassy will continue coordinating with U.S. authorities to ensure that Filipino applicants receive clear guidance as the policy is implemented.
