The Trump administration has tightened US immigration rules further, placing green-card applicants under greater scrutiny, imposing new time limits on foreign students and journalists, and giving immigration officers more power to deny applications.
The latest change came on Wednesday when the US Citizenship and Immigration Services announced that it would replace the application used by eligible immigrants already in the United States to seek permanent residence.
The revised Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, will become mandatory on September 18, when a new Department of Homeland Security rule on public-charge inadmissibility takes effect. USCIS said there will be no grace period for the new form.
The updated public-charge guidance gives immigration officers a broader framework for deciding whether an applicant is likely to become a public charge, meaning someone likely to depend on government assistance.
USCIS said officers will consider the applicant’s circumstances as a whole and review relevant factors and evidence before deciding whether a person is likely to become a public charge. Some categories of immigrants are exempt from the rule.
The department said the new approach is meant to reinforce the requirement that immigrants be self-sufficient rather than mainly dependent on taxpayer-funded benefits.
For people preparing to file for adjustment of status, the most immediate change is the paperwork. USCIS said the September 18, 2026 edition of Form I-485 will replace the current January 20, 2025 edition.
The agency will accept the old version only if it is postmarked or electronically submitted before September 18. It will reject the old version if it is filed on or after that date. The new version should not be submitted before September 18.
The distinction matters because Form I-485 is used by eligible immigrants already in the US to adjust status to lawful permanent resident. It is not the form used by people applying for a green card from abroad through US consulates.
The green-card changes come as the administration is also changing the rules for foreign students, exchange visitors and representatives of foreign media.
A separate DHS rule will replace the long-standing duration-of-status system for F, J and I non-immigrants with fixed admission periods and new extension procedures. That rule takes effect on September 15.
Under the new system, students and exchange visitors will no longer remain in the US for the duration of their program under the old D/S designation. Instead, they will receive a fixed admission period and, when needed, will have to apply for an extension.
Foreign media representatives are also covered by the change. The new rule replaces D/S admissions for the I classification with fixed periods and additional requirements.
The administration says the changes will allow greater oversight and help DHS determine more closely whether foreign students, exchange visitors and media representatives are maintaining their immigration status.
USCIS has also moved to give officers greater discretion when deciding whether immigration benefit requests have established eligibility.
Earlier this month, the agency said applicants and petitioners must provide the evidence needed to prove eligibility and reminded officers that they may deny certain benefit requests without first issuing a Request for Evidence or Notice of Intent to Deny in cases where the law does not support approval or required initial evidence is missing.
That does not mean all incomplete applications will be denied. USCIS said its existing policy still allows RFEs in appropriate cases.
Taken together, the changes mark a significant shift in the administration’s approach to legal immigration, with tighter scrutiny of financial circumstances for some green-card applicants, closer monitoring of temporary immigration status and a stronger emphasis on complete initial filings.
For applicants from Pakistan and other countries, the new rules may mean stricter documentation requirements and less room for error when filing for US immigration benefits.
Get the latest international news and global stories wherever you prefer.
Add ProPakistani to Preferred Sources and see more of our stories in Google Search and Top Stories.
Shares
