USCIS Rejecting Old I-485 Without RFE: New Form Edition Required Sept. 18, 2026

Starting September 18, 2026, USCIS will exclusively accept the new edition (09/18/26) of Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status — the primary form used by EB-3 and other employment-based applicants to apply for a green card through adjustment of status. The transition is immediate with no grace period, meaning any application postmarked or electronically submitted on or after September 18 using the old 01/20/25 edition will be rejected outright. The revised form reflects USCIS's newly finalized Public Charge Ground of Inadmissibility rule, which updates how officers evaluate whether an applicant is likely to become primarily dependent on government assistance — a factor that can result in a green card denial. The new form introduces updated questions and documentation requirements tied to this rule change. For EB-3 applicants and their employers, timing is critical. Filings intended to go out before September 18 must use the current 01/20/25 edition and be submitted before the cutoff. Any filing on or after that date must use the new 09/18/26 edition, which USCIS has made available for preview on the Form I-485 webpage under the Special Instructions section. Employers and petitioning sponsors should coordinate with immigration counsel now to assess how the Public Charge Rule changes affect the supporting documentation required for each employee's case. The rule may alter what financial records or evidence is needed to demonstrate that an applicant does not pose a public charge risk. This is a hard administrative deadline with real consequences — unlike many USCIS transitions, there is no parallel acceptance period. EB-3 applicants and legal teams should audit any pending or imminent I-485 filings immediately to ensure the correct form edition is used.