A revised U.S. immigration policy requiring some green card applicants to apply from abroad is causing concern among Asian workers, potentially disrupting their lives and long-term plans.

A new US immigration policy could force many green card applicants to leave the country and apply from abroad, disrupting families, careers and long-term settlement plans for Asian workers already facing years-long visa backlogs. US Citizenship and Immigration Services said on May 22 that it would grant “adjustment of status” only in “extraordinary circumstances”, referring to the previous process allowing prospective immigrants already in the US to apply for permanent residence without leaving....