Washington, August 21: The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will introduce a new application form next month for individuals seeking permanent residency. The agency has warned that any applications submitted using the old form will not be accepted after the changes take effect.
According to an official notice, the new version of Form I-485 (Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status) will be released on September 18.
Form I-485 is utilized by eligible individuals already residing in the U.S. who wish to obtain legal permanent resident status, commonly known as a green card.
This change is particularly significant for Indian nationals applying for employment-based or family-based green cards. This includes individuals who have been waiting for years for immigrant visa numbers to become available.
USCIS has stated that the new form will bear the version date of September 18, 2026, replacing the previous version dated January 20, 2025.
The agency has also provided a preview of the new form and associated instructions for applicants and immigration attorneys. USCIS clarified that there will be no grace period during which both versions will be accepted. Therefore, applicants must decide which version of the form to use based on their application submission date.
USCIS will only accept the old version dated January 20, 2025, if it is postmarked or submitted online before September 18. If the old form is submitted on or after September 18, it will be rejected outright.
Conversely, applicants should not submit the new form before its effective date. USCIS will only accept the new version dated September 18, 2026, if it is postmarked or submitted online on or after that date.
Due to this limited transition period, the submission date has become critically important. Using the incorrect version may lead USCIS to reject the application before even considering its content.
Indian professionals make up a significant portion of the U.S. employment-based immigration system, particularly in fields such as technology, healthcare, engineering, and other specialized areas. Many Indians face long waits for permanent residency due to annual visa caps set per country.
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