Category: EB1A Extraordinary Ability

Employment-Based Immigration: First Preference EB-1

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Form I-485 Changes by USCIS for Green Card Applicants

The USCIS Form I-485 update introduces new requirements for Green Card applicants. As of February 10, 2025, USCIS will only accept the 10/24/24 edition of Form I-485. Any older editions postmarked on or after that date will be rejected. This update includes changes to medical submissions, affidavit of support exemptions, and public charge assessment.. 

Starting Feb 10, 2025, USCIS will only accept the 10/24/24 edition of Form I-485 and will reject any older editions of Form I-485 postmarked on or after Feb 10, 2025 .

I-485 (Adjustment of Status-Filing for Green Card) is a step after I-140 Filing (Being Eligible for Green Card) process.

Changes to Form I-485

New Medical Exam Submission Requirements

  • Applicants must submit Form I-693 (Report of Medical Examination and Vaccination Record) together with their I-485 application
  • This requirement applies to both complete medical examinations and partial Form I-693 submissions (such as vaccination records)
  • Applications submitted without the required medical documentation may be rejected

Simplified Affidavit of Support Exemption Process

  • Form I-864W has been discontinued and removed from USCIS.gov
  • Exemption requests are now integrated directly into Form I-485
  • This change eliminates the need to submit a separate form

Enhanced Public Charge Assessment

  • Applicants must now specify their immigrant category
  • This addition helps USCIS determine public charge exemptions more efficiently
  • The revised format aims to reduce confusion and streamline the adjudication process

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Feb’22 VISA Bulletin EB1 Dates Remain “Current”

Feb 2022 Visa Bulletin: The Bulletin includes both Final Action Dates and Dates for Filing Visa Applications.

Under the Feb 2022 Visa Bulletin, the first employment-based categories, EB-1, remain “current” for all chargeability areas (China, India, Mexico, Philippines, Vietnam, Central America, and the rest of the world). This means that all applicants chargeable to this allocation may continue to file adjustment status applications in Feb 2022.

The priority Date “Current” means no backlog or no wait time for a green card. A green card is available to you within the Employment-based VISA preference category.

Priority Dates: Generally, the priority date is the date when the immigrant petition is properly filed with USCIS.  In some instances, the priority date is when the labor certification application was accepted for processing by the Department of Labor.

Final Action Dates: Final action dates are based on both the green card category and the chargeability area- your country of origin.

For Foreign Nationals/Immigrants: If you are a Ph.D., Ph.D. student, Postdoc, or even a Master student, you can apply for a U.S. Green Card yourself (Self-Petition) under Extraordinary Ability Criteria (EB1-EA)

US Dept of State releases monthly VISA Bulletin news detailing the availability of visa numbers for family and employment based categories
US Dept of State VISA Bulletin News
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I-944 (Declaration of Self Sufficiency) Discontinued from March 9, 2021

Note: As per USCIS info, Beginning from March 9, 2021, GC applicants should not be required to file Form i-944, Declaration of Self Sufficiency, or any evidence or documentation necessary on that form with their Form I-485, Adjustment of Status. Form I-944 has been discontinued.

Please go through I-944 Form USCIS Instruction for more detailed information on this newly added form in 2020.

According to USCIS

  • Form I-944, “Declaration of Self-Sufficiency” is used by an individual to demonstrate that he or she is not inadmissible based on the public charge ground (Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) section 212(a)(4)). In other words, the form is used by Green Card applicants to provide information about their financial situation.
  • If you file the form I-485, Adjustment of Status, you should submit Form I-944 to USCIS.
  • If you are exempt from the Public charge ground of inadmissibility as per criteria setup by USCIS, you do not need to file Form I-944.  
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