He United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will implement changes to the application process permanent residence from the February 10, 2025. The modifications include updating the Form I-485the obligation to present a medical examination and the elimination of certain supplemental forms, as reported by USCIS on its website.
These changes respond to an effort to optimize the process of status adjustment and reduce the backlog of pending applications. In fiscal year 2023, USCIS processed more than 1.2 million requests of adjustment of status, with wait times that varied depending on the processing office and the category of the applicant. The agency has implemented various measures in recent years to improve efficiency in adjudicating cases.
From February 10, 2025only the version of the Form I-485 with edition date October 24, 2024. All previous versions will be rejected. This document, called “Application for Registration of Permanent Residence or Adjustment of Status”is the main means for foreigners who are legally in the country to request the permanent residence.
Among the most relevant modifications, USCIS established that applicants must present the Form I-693which certifies that they have completed a medical examination with a licensed physician and who meet vaccination requirements. This measure, in force since December 2, 2024seeks to ensure that applicants do not have health conditions that could affect eligibility for the permanent residence. Failure to provide this document will result in automatic rejection of the application.
Another change announced by the immigration agency is the elimination of the Form I-864Wwhich was previously used to request exemption from the Affidavit of Financial Sponsorship. With the new version of Form I-485the request for this exemption will be made directly in the same document, which will reduce the number of forms required in the process of status adjustment.
Additionally, USCIS modified the questions related to public charge in it Form I-485. The agency noted that the update is intended to improve the clarity of the questions and make it easier to identify applicants who may be subject to this cause of action. inadmissibility. With these changes, the evaluation of applications will be streamlined and the possibility of erroneous interpretations by applicants will be reduced.
The agency also indicated that the structure of the form has been reorganized to simplify its use. The instructions were adjusted to provide more detailed information about the requirements and necessary documentation. USCIS recommends that applicants carefully review the most recent version of the Form I-485 before submitting it to avoid errors that could delay the processing of the application.
Applicants interested in applying should ensure they use the updated version of the Form I-485 from the February 10, 2025. Likewise, USCIS recommends scheduling the medical examination required to avoid delays in the process. In case of doubts about the eligibility or the necessary documents, the agency suggests consulting with a immigration lawyer or an accredited representative.
The processing time of the Green Card It varies depending on the category of the applicant and the workload of the USCIS offices. In some cases, the process can take between 6 and 24 months. The agency recommends applicants check the status of their case on the official website and stay informed about possible updates to processing times.
The cost of filing Form I-485 it is USD 1,140 plus an additional charge of USD 85 for biometric services, which brings the total cost to USD 1,225 in most cases. USCIS offers certain fee waivers for applicants who meet specific criteria, such as refugees or asylum seekers.
To be eligible to apply for Green Cardforeigners must meet at least one of the categories established by USCIS, including:
- Immediate family members of US citizens or permanent residents.
- Qualified employees sponsored by a company in the USA.
- Refugees or asylees that meet the established requirements.
- Beneficiaries of humanitarian programs.
Each category has specific requirements and supporting documents needed to complete the application.
