Thousands of immigrants living legally in the United States on temporary visas now face an agonizing choice: leave the country and their families behind to apply for a green card from their home nation, or abandon their pursuit of permanent residency altogether.

The choice follows a sweeping policy change announced on May 22, 2026, by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), effectively dismantling a decades-old pathway that allowed eligible immigrants already inside the United States to become permanent residents without first departing.

Under the new guidance, most immigrants on temporary visas, including B-2 tourist visa holders, F-1 student visa holders, and other non-immigrant visa categories, must now return to their home country and complete their immigrant visa process at a U.S. consulate or embassy abroad.

The only exceptions are for what USCIS calls “extraordinary circumstances,” a term the agency has not defined.

A Longstanding Path Erased

The legal pathway known as Adjustment of Status (AOS), established under Section 245A of the Immigration and Nationality Act, has for decades allowed many eligible immigrants already in the United States to apply for a green card (permanent residence) without leaving U.S. soil.

Under the new policy, USCIS offices have been instructed to treat Adjustment of Status as “an extraordinary form of relief” rather than a standard option. Each case will now be evaluated individually, but the presumption has shifted decisively against onshore processing.

“This guidance was just published today, May 22nd, 2026,” immigration attorney Akua Poku of AK Poku Law said in a social media commentary. “In practical terms, the Trump administration is telling immigration officers that many people who enter the U.S. on temporary visas should leave the United States to complete their immigrant visa process abroad.”

‘A Clear Divide’

USCIS spokesman Zach Koehler outlined the agency’s new position in stark terms.

“From now on, an alien who is in the U.S. temporarily and wants a green card must return to their home country to apply except in extraordinary circumstances,” Koehler said.

USCIS Director Joseph Edlo said the Trump administration wants to restore what he calls “a clear divide between temporary visas and permanent immigration.”

The agency has also stated that the new policy will allow USCIS to focus more resources on other case types, including naturalization applications, visas for victims of violent crime, and other agency priorities.

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Families in Limbo

For the millions of immigrants living in the United States on temporary visas—international students, temporary workers, spouses of U.S. citizens or green card holders, and others—the policy creates immediate and painful uncertainty.

Those who choose to leave must navigate potentially lengthy consular processing backlogs in their home countries, with no guarantee of approval or a timely return. Those who stay may lose their chance at permanent residency altogether.

The policy does not define what qualifies as “extraordinary circumstances,” leaving families and their attorneys to guess whether medical needs, employment, or U.S.-citizen children might qualify as exceptions.

Legal Challenges Expected

Immigration attorneys have noted that the statutory language of INA Section 245A remains unchanged. The new guidance represents a dramatic reinterpretation of existing law, and legal challenges are widely expected.

“The Adjustment of Status provision has long allowed many eligible immigrants who are already inside the United States to apply for a green card without leaving,” Poku noted in her commentary. The new policy, she said, directs USCIS officers to treat that path as an exception rather than a rule.

For now, immigrants on temporary visas and their families are left watching, waiting, and weighing an impossible choice: leave to stay, or stay and lose the chance forever.

Three young students from Kasoa in Ghana’s Central Region are finally receiving global recognition after the Guinness World Record (GWR) officially confirmed their extraordinary achievements in organization, environmental action, and agriculture, feats accomplished months ago but now trending across social media and national news.

Selorm Kordzo Junior Dzakah, Isaac K. Boadi Atuah, and George K. Kwateng Boadi, all students at the Pentecost Preparatory School in Kasoa, have each secured Guinness World Records under the training of the Sophia Boadi Readathon International Foundation (SBRIF), supervised by Executive Director Sophia Boadi.

A School Bag Packed at Lightning Speed

Selorm Kordzo Junior Dzakah achieved the fastest time to pack a school bag (Under 16s) , completing the task in just 11.77 seconds on 4 December 2025 in Kasoa, according to GWR records.

But the feat was more than a race against the clock. Selorm told GWR that his record attempt was designed to promote essential life skills.

“I hope to promote essential life skills like organization, time management, and problem solving with my record achievement,” Selorm said, according to GWR’s official citation. He added that attempting the record is “a fun activity which also challenges critical thinking, fine motor skills and attention to detail.”

Teamwork for a Cleaner Environment

Isaac K. Boadi Atuah and George K. Kwateng Boadi together achieved the fastest time to sort two bags of recyclable materials (team of two) (Under 16s) , completing the task in 28 seconds on 11 September 2024, also in Kasoa.

The pair attempted the record with a clear environmental mission. According to GWR, Isaac and George took on the challenge “to raise awareness for the importance of a clean and sustainable environment.”

Planting for the Future

Isaac K. Boadi Atuah did not stop there. The same student also holds the record for the most seeds planted in one minute (Under 16s) , successfully planting 14 seeds in under 16 seconds.

Celebration and Pride

Social media posts circulating in Ghana show the three young record holders proudly displaying their certificates. Another image shows Sophia Boadi holding some of the certificates for a pose. In all the photographs, the students and their trainer wear broad smiles, radiating joy and pride in their achievements.

The Guinness World Records organization has formally recognized all three feats on its official website, confirming the students’ places in the global record books.

A Foundation for Youth Achievement

The Sophia Boadi Readathon International Foundation (SBRIF), under the leadership of Executive Director Sophia Boadi, trained and supervised the students throughout their record-breaking attempts. The foundation’s involvement suggests a structured approach to nurturing goal-oriented, skill-based achievements among Ghanaian basic school students.

For a nation that has seen a surge of interest in Guinness World Records in recent years, these three young Ghanaians stand out not only for their speed and precision but for the thoughtful purpose behind each attempt: organization, sustainability, and agriculture.

As the certificates are hung on walls and the social media likes accumulate, Selorm, Isaac, and George have sent a clear message from Kasoa to the world: even the smallest hands can move at record speed—and change the world while doing it.

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Accra: Floodwaters submerge homes, roads across various communities

Heavy rains that hit parts of Greater Accra on Friday, May 22, 2026, caused widespread flooding, submerging several homes, displacing residents, and leaving motorists stranded on major roads. A Citi News visit to affected communities showed houses inundated with floodwaters, particularly in Alajo, where several residents were forced out of their homes after the downpour. Other areas including Mallam, Baah Yard, SCC, and Dansoman also recorded varying levels of flooding, resulting in severe disruptions to vehicular and pedestrian movement. Motorists were seen struggling to navigate waterlogged roads, while traffic built up along major routes as commuters attempted to return home.

Residents reported the destruction of household items, electrical appliances, and other personal belongings, with some remaining outside their homes hours after the rains, waiting for floodwaters to recede. Speaking to Citi News, frustrated residents blamed the persistent flooding on poor drainage systems, choked gutters, and poorly constructed drainage channels, claiming that repeated appeals to authorities have yielded little response. They called on city authorities and government to urgently intervene to prevent future occurrences, especially as the rainy season intensifies.

Read the full story here.

Panic in Sunyani: Chiefs to perform rituals after mystery deaths of two successive headteachers

The Sunyani West Municipality in Ghana’s Bono Region has been thrown into fear and anxiety following the sudden and mysterious deaths of two successive headteachers at the Kobedi AME Zion Basic School. The current headmistress, Madam Gladys Dorlo Batinge, passed away in April 2026 under unusual circumstances, just months after being posted to replace the previous headmaster, who had also died under similar mysterious conditions in September 2025. The tragedy has forced a week-long suspension of all academic activities at the school pending traditional cleansing rituals.

The Queen Mother of Kobedi, Nana Ameyaa Ansu Gyeabour, has disclosed that community members believe the deaths are linked to a spiritual curse invoked by a native associated with the Nzor community, allegedly over claims of financial extortion involving school authorities. The traditional council is actively working to perform necessary customary rites and resolve underlying disputes, while the Krotihene of Kobedi, Nana Korang Amoah Asimpi, has strongly criticised what he describes as inaccurate and unverified media reports that have exacerbated panic. District education authorities are expected to meet with the traditional council this week to assess the psychological readiness of teachers and coordinate a safe reopening of the school.

Read the full story here.

The party has lost ground – Paul Afoko breaks long silence to launch NPP comeback

Former National Chairman of Ghana’s New Patriotic Party (NPP), Paul Afoko, has emerged from years of self-imposed exile with a stark warning that the party has “lost a lot of ground” due to internal complacency. Addressing a closed-door consultative meeting with the Greater Accra Regional Executive Committee on May 21, 2026, Afoko argued that the party’s electoral machinery has been severely weakened and that denial would only worsen the situation. He recalled the operational blueprint built during his tenure as National Chairman, which he says laid the groundwork for the party’s eventual electoral success, drawing a biblical parallel by stating he “saw the promised land” but was sidelined before victory. Afoko explained that his long silence was a deliberate sacrifice to protect party cohesion, revealing that he was driven underground after defending the new administration early on—only to have his comments twisted by detractors. Despite his absence, he disclosed that he continued to bankroll and support parliamentary candidates. His nationwide consultative tour is widely interpreted as a strategic move to position himself as a unifying elder statesman capable of reconciling internal factions and reclaiming lost political ground.

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Ghana to announce World Cup squad on June 1

Ghana Football Association President Kurt Okraku has announced that the Black Stars’ FIFA World Cup squad will be revealed on June 1, 2026, following Ghana’s 2-0 defeat to Mexico in an international friendly. Despite the loss, Okraku declared “objective accomplished” on Facebook, emphasising that the match provided significant stage exposure for the majority of Ghana’s U-23 players, who will soon assemble for Olympic qualifiers, as well as other players who have had limited playing time.

Okraku stressed that the friendly offered a valuable opportunity to test players outside the regular senior national team setup, allowing the technical team to evaluate unfamiliar talents at close range. He acknowledged the challenges of integrating a largely inexperienced squad within a short period but urged supporters to focus on the positives. The GFA President praised the young talents as exceptional players requiring collective nurturing along a designated pathway. Ghana will now face Wales in another friendly as preparations continue toward the World Cup, with anticipation building ahead of the official squad announcement on June 1.

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Pastor Accused of Murder: New revelations emerge over death of Scottish wife in Ghana hotel

More than a decade after the death of Scottish woman Charmain Speirs, new revelations have emerged in the case against her Ghanaian husband, pastor Eric Adusah. Charmain, 40, was found dead in a hotel bathtub in Ghana in March 2015, just six months after a whirlwind romance and quickfire wedding. Adusah, the head pastor of the Global Light Revival church who is known as “the prophet” by followers, was charged with murder but released due to lack of evidence. A new BBC podcast series, “Charmain and the Prophet,” features Elma Adams, an 80-year-old devout Christian who was Adusah’s “Scottish mum.” Adams claims Charmain was “on a mission” to discover her husband’s true identity, describing how Charmain appeared distressed, resentful, and financially dependent, with Adusah allegedly insulting her appearance and controlling what she wore.

Other witnesses have told the BBC they saw signs of coercive control and physical abuse. According to a witness statement given to British police, Charmain discovered during her Ghana trip that her husband used another name, was much older than claimed, and may have had another wife in Ghana. On March 16, 2015, the day before she was last seen alive, a witness received a phone call from Charmain’s number during which Adusah was heard shouting and banging a table before the call ended abruptly. Adusah, who now lives in the USA under the name Eric Isaiah Kusi Boateng, did not answer the BBC’s questions about alleged domestic abuse. Friends, including Adams and Anne-Marie Bond, continue to reckon with Charmain’s death, with Adams stating:

“We’ve both been conned, useful idiots… Charmain was used; she was a commodity.”

Read the full story here.