New Form I-485 Alert: USCIS Changes Effective September 18, 2026 for Green Card Applicants

USCIS has officially released an updated version of Form I-485, the primary form used by applicants seeking to adjust their status to lawful permanent resident from within the United States. The new form version becomes mandatory effective September 18, 2026, meaning applicants must use the updated form for any filings on or after that date. For EB-3 applicants who are currently in the adjustment of status process or planning to file, this change is significant. Using an outdated version of Form I-485 after the mandatory date could result in rejection of the filing. USCIS typically rejects filings submitted on incorrect or expired form versions, which can cause delays and potentially affect priority dates. The Immigration Daily issue also highlights a Congressional Research Service (CRS) report on DHS appropriations. CRS reports provide nonpartisan analysis to Congress and can signal upcoming legislative or budgetary priorities affecting USCIS operations, staffing, and processing capacity — all of which have downstream effects on green card processing timelines. EB-3 applicants and their attorneys should download the new Form I-485 from the official USCIS website immediately and verify they are using the correct edition before submitting any pending applications. Applicants with imminent filing plans should confirm the new form's requirements, as updated versions sometimes include revised questions or additional documentation requests.