Washington DC: The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services has announced that a revised edition of Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, will take effect on September 18, 2026. The agency stated that older versions submitted after this implementation date will be rejected without evaluation on their merits, as no overlapping grace period will be offered.
Form I-485 is the primary document used by eligible individuals living inside the United States to adjust their immigration status to lawful permanent residence. The update aligns filing procedures with the finalized public-charge grounds of inadmissibility, which assess whether an applicant is likely to rely primarily on government support. The agency confirmed that filing fees and standard submission timelines remain unchanged.
Under the new directive, USCIS will exclusively accept the previous January 20, 2025 edition if it is postmarked or transmitted electronically before September 18. Conversely, any application submitted on or after September 18 must use the new September 18, 2026 edition, and the new form cannot be submitted before its effective date.
The change holds particular relevance for foreign nationals, including Indian professionals in technology, engineering, and medicine who face lengthy backlogs under employment- and family-based immigration caps. Applicants submitting the form remain eligible to file concurrently for employment and travel authorization while their cases are pending.
