USCIS updates Form I-485 and opens new asylum office

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has implemented several procedural changes regarding residency and asylum applications.

Effective September 18, 2026, applicants must use the revised edition of Form I-485 (dated 09/18/26) to apply for permanent residence or adjust status. The agency will reject the previous 01/20/25 edition if submitted on or after that date. This revision aims to harmonize the form with recent rules concerning public charge inadmissibility.

Additionally, a new USCIS asylum office has opened in Charlotte, North Carolina, to serve applicants from both North and South Carolina. While this does not change asylum laws or requirements, it changes the location for interviews. Applicants with existing cases will receive new appointment locations. Furthermore, individuals with asylum cases open for more than one year must pay a $105 annual fee starting October 15, with a 30-day window to comply to avoid application rejection or work permit cancellation.