New USCIS Form I-485 and I-765 Editions Required in September 2026

Important: USCIS announced different effective dates for these two forms. The new edition of Form I-765 becomes mandatory on September 15, 2026, while the new edition of Form I-485 becomes mandatory on September 18, 2026. Applicants should not use September 15 as the deadline for both forms.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced revised editions of Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, and Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status. USCIS will reject an older edition when the applicable filing is postmarked or electronically submitted on or after its cutoff date (U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services [USCIS], 2026a, 2026b).

September 2026 Form-Edition Deadlines

What Is Changing for Form I-765?

Form I-765 is used to request employment authorization or renew an Employment Authorization Document in eligible categories. USCIS announced that it will publish the 09/15/26 edition on September 15, 2026. Beginning that day, USCIS will accept only the 09/15/26 edition when the application is postmarked or electronically submitted on or after September 15 (USCIS, 2026a).

USCIS will accept the 08/21/25 edition only when it is postmarked or electronically submitted before September 15, 2026. Applicants preparing work-permit applications or renewals should confirm the edition date printed at the bottom of the form immediately before filing.

This change may affect adjustment-of-status applicants, eligible TPS applicants, DACA renewal applicants and others filing Form I-765 under a qualifying employment-authorization category. The new edition does not itself create eligibility for a work permit. The applicant must still qualify under the selected category and provide the required fee, evidence, photographs and supporting documentation.

What Is Changing for Form I-485?

Form I-485 is used by eligible applicants seeking lawful permanent residence from inside the United States. USCIS announced that it will publish the 09/18/26 edition on September 18, 2026. USCIS will accept only that new edition when Form I-485 is postmarked or electronically submitted on or after September 18 (USCIS, 2026b).

The revised Form I-485 aligns with the public-charge final rule taking effect on September 18, 2026. Applicants filing on or after that date should use the newly published form, instructions and USCIS guidance rather than relying on a previously downloaded copy or an older checklist.

Anyone with a partially prepared adjustment-of-status package should review the filing timeline carefully. If the package will not be postmarked before September 18, the answers and supporting documents should be transferred to the new edition and reviewed again for completeness before filing.

How to Avoid a Rejection for Using an Outdated Form

• Download each form directly from USCIS shortly before filing.
• Check the edition date printed at the bottom of every page.
• Use the filing date that applies to the specific form; do not assume that Form I-485 and Form I-765 share the same cutoff.
• For mailed filings, plan around the postmark date—not the date the package is delivered to USCIS.
• For an eligible online filing, confirm the edition and submission requirements shown in the USCIS online account.
• Use the current filing address, fee and form instructions shown on the official USCIS form page.
• Review every answer, signature and required supporting document before filing.

What If Forms I-485 and I-765 Are Filed Together?

Adjustment-of-status applicants sometimes file Form I-485 and Form I-765 in the same package. Each form must independently satisfy the USCIS edition requirement that applies on the package's postmark date. For example, a package postmarked on September 16, 2026, would fall after the new I-765 cutoff but before the new I-485 cutoff. The applicant should therefore check the edition rule for each form separately rather than treating the package as having one universal form-edition deadline.

Because the deadlines are close together, the safest administrative practice is to recheck both official USCIS form pages on the day the package is finalized. A rejected filing can cause delay and may be especially serious when a filing deadline, expiring status or expiring employment authorization is involved.

Immigration Paperwork Assistance in Houston

Premier Immigration Consulting provides administrative immigration document preparation for individuals and families in Houston, Humble and Harris County, Texas. We prepare forms using information and instructions supplied by the client, organize supporting documents and help clients check that the correct form editions are included. Learn more through our family-based immigration information, adjustment-of-status timeline guide, work-permit renewal guide, adjustment-of-status document preparation service and employment-authorization document preparation service.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do Forms I-485 and I-765 both change on September 15, 2026?

No. The new 09/15/26 edition of Form I-765 becomes mandatory for filings postmarked or electronically submitted on or after September 15, 2026. The new 09/18/26 edition of Form I-485 becomes mandatory for filings postmarked or electronically submitted on or after September 18, 2026.

Will USCIS accept the older Form I-765 after September 15, 2026?

No. USCIS states that the 08/21/25 edition will be rejected if it is postmarked or electronically submitted on or after September 15, 2026.

Can I keep using an older Form I-485 if I already started completing it?

Only if the filing complies with USCIS's transition instructions and is postmarked or electronically submitted before the applicable cutoff. If the filing will occur on or after September 18, 2026, the information must be transferred to the 09/18/26 edition and carefully reviewed before submission.

Where should I verify the correct edition before filing?

Check the official USCIS webpage for the specific form immediately before filing. The form page provides the current edition date, instructions, filing options, addresses and fee information.

References

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. (2026a, August 14). USCIS to publish new editions of Form I-539 and Form I-765; older editions will be rejected starting September 15, 2026. .

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. (2026b, August 19). USCIS to publish new edition of Form I-485; older editions will be rejected starting September 18, 2026..

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. (2026c). Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. (2026d). Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization.

Disclaimer

Premier Immigration Consulting is not a law firm and is not affiliated with USCIS or any government agency. We provide administrative document-preparation assistance based solely on information and instructions supplied by the client. We do not provide legal advice, legal analysis or legal representation. Immigration requirements may change, so applicants should confirm current forms, fees, filing addresses and instructions directly with USCIS before submitting any application.

Need help organizing your Form I-485 or Form I-765 filing? Contact Premier Immigration Consulting for administrative immigration paperwork assistance in Houston, Humble and Harris County. We can help prepare current USCIS forms using your information and organize the documents you provide.