U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced that a new edition of Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, will be required beginning September 18, 2026. The revised Form I-485 carries an edition date of 09/18/26 and replaces the current 01/20/25 edition. The update is directly tied to the new Public Charge Ground of Inadmissibility Final Rule, which also takes effect on September 18, 2026.
For applicants preparing to file for adjustment of status, the timing of the filing will be critical because USCIS is not providing a grace period for use of the older form.
Why Is USCIS Updating Form I-485?
USCIS revised Form I-485 to align the application with the new public charge rules taking effect on September 18, 2026. The new public charge framework changes how USCIS evaluates whether certain applicants for adjustment of status may be inadmissible because they are likely at any time to become a public charge.
Because the new rules require USCIS to collect and evaluate information differently, the agency has revised Form I-485 and its instructions to reflect those requirements.
What Edition of Form I-485 Should You Use?
The correct edition depends entirely on when the application is filed.
Before September 18, 2026
USCIS will continue accepting the 01/20/25 edition of Form I-485 if it is postmarked or electronically submitted before September 18, 2026.
On or After September 18, 2026
USCIS will accept only the 09/18/26 edition. Any Form I-485 using the older 01/20/25 edition that is postmarked or electronically submitted on or after September 18, 2026, will be rejected.
There Is No Grace Period
This is the most important part of the announcement. USCIS sometimes allows applicants to continue using an older edition of a form for a transition period after a new version is released. That will not happen here. Because the revised Form I-485 is necessary to implement the new public charge rule, USCIS has stated that there will be no grace period.
That means applicants must pay close attention to both:
- the edition date printed on the form; and
- the filing date.
Do Not File the New Edition Early
USCIS is providing a preview version of the 09/18/26 Form I-485 and its instructions so applicants and legal representatives can prepare in advance. However, the new form cannot be filed before September 18, 2026.
USCIS will only accept the 09/18/26 edition if it is postmarked or electronically submitted on or after that date.
Filing Rules at a Glance
For Form I-485:
- The 01/20/25 edition is accepted if filed before September 18, 2026.
- The 01/20/25 edition will be rejected if filed on or after September 18, 2026.
- The 09/18/26 edition will only be accepted if filed on or after September 18, 2026.
Why a Rejected I-485 Filing Can Be Serious
A form rejection may seem administrative, but in an adjustment of status case it can create significant problems.
Depending on the applicant’s circumstances, a rejected filing could affect:
- priority date timing;
- visa availability;
- maintenance of lawful status;
- work authorization strategy;
- travel planning;
- concurrent filing eligibility; or
- eligibility under a specific filing window.
This is especially important for applicants whose immigrant visa category is current for only a limited period of time or whose underlying nonimmigrant status is nearing expiration.
How This Connects to the New Public Charge Rule
The new Form I-485 is being issued specifically to implement USCIS’s revised public charge framework.
Beginning September 18, 2026, applicants subject to the public charge ground may face broader review of factors such as:
- age;
- health;
- family status;
- assets, resources, and financial status;
- education and skills;
- receipt of certain means-tested public benefits; and
- required financial sponsorship, including Form I-864 where applicable.
Applicants filing on or after September 18 should therefore expect both a new form and a different public charge analysis.
What Applicants Should Do Now
Anyone preparing an adjustment of status application around the September 18 transition date should:
- confirm the edition date of Form I-485 immediately before filing;
- avoid using previously saved copies of the form without checking the USCIS website;
- review the new 09/18/26 instructions carefully;
- coordinate the filing date with any public charge considerations; and
- make sure the entire adjustment package is consistent with the new requirements.
Final Thoughts
The September 18, 2026 Form I-485 update is more than a routine form revision. It is directly tied to the new public charge rules and comes with a strict no-grace-period transition. Applicants filing before September 18 may still use the 01/20/25 edition, but anyone filing on or after September 18 must use the 09/18/26 edition or risk rejection.
For adjustment of status applicants with time-sensitive cases, careful filing preparation will be especially important during this transition.
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REBECCA KROLL is an Associate Attorney at Richards and Jurusik who practices exclusively in U.S. immigration law, focusing on both business and family-based immigration. She assists clients with employment-based visas, marriage and family cases, and the U.S. citizenship process. (Full Bio)
