USCIS Forms Updates (Oct 2015 to Dec 2015)

Introduction: USCIS Forms Updates

The United States Citizenship Services (USCIS) periodically updates its immigration forms. The USCIS states on its “Form Improvements Initiative” webpage [PDF version]¹ that reasons for this include publishing forms in more easy-to-use formats that are more user-friendly in look and feel. In most cases when a form is updated, certain older versions of the form are still acceptable for a certain period of time. In this post, I will list the Forms that have been changed from October of 2015 to December of 2015 and the older versions of the changed forms that will still be accepted [PDF version].²

USCIS Forms Updates: October 2015 (Form I-140 and Form I-485)

Form I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker

The update to the Form I-140 is dated 10/15/15. Persons may still file using the previous edition that is dated 3/5/13.

Please follow this link to learn about employment immigration.

Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status

The USCIS updated the Form I-485. The USCIS also updated instructions for the:

Form I-485 Supplement C, HRIFA; and
Form I-485 Supplement E, T and U Nonimmigrants

The update to these forms is dated 10/05/15. Persons may still file using the following previous editions of these forms dated:

06/20/13
01/18/11
11/23/10
11/08/10
7/15/10
 12/03/09

Please see our sections on adjustment of status [see category], employment immigration [see category], family immigration [see category], U visas [see article], and T visas [see article] to learn more about how the Form I-485 and its supplements are used.

Form I-485 Supplement A, Adjustment of Status Under Section 245(i)

The update to the Form I-485 Supplement A is dated 10/05/15. Persons seeking adjustment of status under section 245(i) [see article] may still file using the following previous editions of the Form I-485, Supplement A dated:

06/20/13
01/18/11
11/23/10
12/16/08
 05/27/08

USCIS Forms Updates: November 2015 (Form I-765)

Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization

The new edition of the Form I-765 is dated 11/04/15. Persons filing the Form I-756 may still file using the following previous editions of the Form I-765 dated:

02/13/15
05/27/08 (or later)

USCIS Forms Updates: December 2015 (Form I-824 and Form I-817)

Form I-824, Application for Action on an Approved Application or Petition

The new edition of the Form I-824 is dated 10/21/15. Staring on February 8, 2016, USCIS will only accept the new edition that is dated 10/21/15. Until February 8, 2016, USCIS will still accept the previous edition dated 09/30/13.

Form I-817, Application for Family Unity Benefits

The new edition of the Form I-817 is dated 10/05/15. Staring on February 8, 2016, USCIS will only accept the new edition that is dated 10/05/15. Until February 8, 2016, USCIS will still accept the previous edition dated 06/26/13.

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1. “USCIS Form Improvements Initiative,” USCIS, (June 6, 2014), available at http://www.uscis.gov/forms/forms-updates/uscis-form-improvements-initiative [PDF version]
2. “Forms Updates,” USCIS, (November 12, 2015), available at http://www.uscis.gov/forms-updates [PDF version]