New Form I-485 Asks Many New Questions – Be Prepared!

As of June 26, 2017, USCIS has issued a revised Form I-485 (commonly known as the application for adjustment of status or “green card” application. It is now 18-pages long (increase from 6 pages). It formally goes into effect Aug. 25, 2017. It now asks plenty of new questions about the applicant, including:

(1) whether the applicant has ever used another date of birth;
(2) whether the applicant’s parents have ever used another name;
(3) whether the applicant’s parents have ever committed a crime;
(4) whether the applicant has reason to believe that he/she ever obtain money from a parent who engaged in criminal activity;
(5) whether the applicant has ever violated his/her visa status;
(6) whether the applicant has ever worked in the USA without authorization;
(7) whether the applicant has ever claimed to be a US citizen.

These are just a FEW of the highlights! It is critically important that if applying for a green card through the filing of Form I-485, you review the questions thoroughly or consult with a qualified immigration lawyer, as a wrong answer can jeopardize your eligibility (even if you answer wrong by mistake). It is important to understand the questions being asked. A non-lawyer may not be able to understand or answer YOUR questions about eligibility for a green card based on the questions asked (or understanding WHY they are being asked)!

Ruchi Thaker
Posted in adjustment of status, DHS, immigration, USCIS.