The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced a 30-day grace period allowing immigrants to submit older versions of key immigration forms, including those for green card and naturalization applications. The decision follows a lawsuit challenging the agency’s abrupt rollout of updated forms without advance notice.
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Which forms are affected?
The grace period applies to several critical immigration forms, including:
- Form I-485 – Green Card Application
- Form N-400 – Naturalization Application
- I-485 Supplement A & J – Additional information and job offer confirmation
- I-134 – Declaration of Financial Support
- I-192 – Advanced Permission to Enter as a Nonimmigrant
- G-325A – Biographic Information
- I-918 – Petition for U Nonimmigrant Status
- I-131 – Application for Travel Documents
Why did USCIS reverse its policy?
In January 2025, USCIS introduced new versions of these forms and initially required applicants to use them immediately. However, the lack of a transition period led to confusion, with immigration attorneys and applicants fearing processing delays or denials for those who unknowingly submitted outdated forms.
In response, the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) and law firm Benach Collopy LLP filed a lawsuit, arguing that USCIS’s sudden policy shift unfairly impacted applicants. The legal challenge pressured the agency to allow a 30-day grace period so applicants could use either the prior or new versions before the updated forms become mandatory.
The updated forms reflect several policy shifts, including:
- Terminology Change: USCIS has reverted to using “alien” instead of “noncitizen,” aligning with Trump-era immigration language.
- Gender Identity Restrictions: The forms now only recognize “male” and “female” as gender options, eliminating nonbinary or other gender identities.
Applicants must carefully check which form version they submit. Until the grace period ends, USCIS will accept both the old and new forms. After the 30-day deadline, only the January 20, 2025, editions will be valid.
USCIS has confirmed that the grace period applies to forms updated on February 24, March 3, and March 4. After this transition period, the agency will enforce the mandatory use of the new forms.
