USCIS has published a preview version of a revised Form I-485 that will become effective on September 18, 2026. While the overwhelming majority of the form remains unchanged, employers and foreign nationals should be aware of an important update involving public charge questions.

The revised form is not yet available for filing, and USCIS has indicated that the official 09/18/26 edition will become mandatory on September 18, 2026, with no grace period. Applicants filing on or after that date will have to use the new version.

Expanded Public Charge Questions

The most significant change is in the public charge section of the form.

Under the current I-485, applicants are asked about a limited group of public benefits, such as SSI and TANF. The new version instead asks whether the applicant has ever received any means-tested public benefit and requires additional information regarding those benefits, including a chart requesting details about the benefit received.

What About Consular Processing?

These changes apply to adjustment of status cases (green card cases) filed with USCIS and do not directly affect consular processing cases. The current public charge-related immigrant visa issuance pause affecting certain nationalities remains in effect, and there have been no significant Department of State updates regarding implementation of the new public charge framework at U.S. embassies and consulates.

As always, healthcare employers and foreign national employees with questions about these changes should contact their MU attorney regarding their specific circumstances.