On September 18, 2026, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will begin requiring a new edition of Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status. The revised form carries an edition date of 09/18/26 and replaces the version dated 01/20/25. USCIS made the change to align the form with the new Public Charge Ground of Inadmissibility Final Rule, which takes effect that same day.
Update Details
There’s no grace period this time. USCIS posted a preview of the new form and its instructions so applicants can familiarize themselves with the changes. However, the agency will accept the 09/18/26 edition only if applicants postmark it or file it electronically on or after September 18, 2026. File it early and USCIS will reject it.
The reverse is true for the current 01/20/25 edition. USCIS will keep accepting that version through September 17, 2026. USCIS rejects the application if submitted on or after September 18 too.
In practical terms, applicants filing around that date need to pay close attention to timing. Mail an application close to the deadline and there’s a real risk it lands in USCIS’s hands with the wrong edition attached, whether that’s because it’s postmarked too early with the new form or arrives too late with the old one. Anyone planning to file Form I-485 in the days surrounding September 18 should confirm the edition date on the form itself before sending anything, whether by mail or through the online filing system.
USCIS has published the preview version of the new I-485 and its instructions on the Form I-485 webpage for anyone who wants to review the changes now.
As always, ILBSG actively monitors ongoing U.S. immigration news. If you have questions about any U.S. immigration related issue, contact us. Working with an experienced attorney ensures you get the right advice based on the most recent laws. In an ever-evolving immigration policy landscape, it’s particularly critical you get the right advice.