, May 23 -- Most immigrants applying for US green cards will now need to leave the country and complete the process at a US embassy or consulate abroad under a newly announced policy.

On Friday, US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) said individuals seeking to adjust their immigration status must use consular processing outside the US "except in extraordinary circumstances".

The change, part of the Trump administration's broader crackdown on illegal immigration, removes a pathway that previously allowed some visa holders and visitors to apply for permanent residency while remaining in the country.

Opponents argue the previous system helped keep families together while applications - often taking months or years - were process...