USCIS to Introduce Revised Green Card Application Form in September
Washington — U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services will begin using a revised version of a key Green Card application form next month and has warned that older editions submitted after the change takes effect will be rejected.
The new edition of Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, will take effect Sept. 18, USCIS said.
Form I-485 is used by eligible applicants already in the United States to apply for lawful permanent resident status, commonly known as a Green Card.
The change is expected to be closely watched by Indian nationals pursuing employment- and family-based permanent residence, including applicants who have waited years for an immigrant visa number to become available.
USCIS said the revised form will carry an edition date of Sept. 18, 2026, replacing the current Jan. 20, 2025, edition. The agency has released a preview of the new form and accompanying instructions.
There will be no grace period during which both editions are accepted.
USCIS will continue to accept the Jan. 20, 2025, edition if it is postmarked or electronically submitted before Sept. 18. Applications using that edition that are postmarked or electronically filed on or after Sept. 18 will be rejected.
Applicants also should not use the new form before the effective date. USCIS will accept the Sept. 18, 2026, edition only if it is postmarked or electronically submitted on or after Sept. 18.
The transition makes the filing date particularly important for applicants and immigration lawyers. Using the wrong edition could result in an application being rejected before USCIS reviews the merits of the case.
USCIS said the revised Form I-485 was prepared to align the adjustment-of-status process with a recently announced final rule concerning the public-charge ground of inadmissibility.
The public-charge provision is used to determine whether an applicant is likely to become primarily dependent on government assistance for subsistence. Its interpretation and application have shifted under different U.S. administrations and have frequently been a contentious part of immigration policy.
USCIS did not announce any separate changes to filing fees or other filing dates in connection with the revised form. The agency directed applicants to its Form I-485 webpage for the preview edition and detailed instructions.
Indian professionals make up a significant share of the employment-based immigration system, particularly in technology, medicine, engineering and other specialized fields. Many face lengthy waits for permanent residence because of annual visa limits and per-country caps.
Applicants with pending Form I-485 cases may also be eligible to seek related employment authorization and permission to travel while their Green Card applications are being processed. (Source: IANS)
