USCIS Updates Green Card Filing Locations and Procedures
TL;DR
- USCIS has changed the mailing addresses for Form I-485 applications.
- A 30-day grace period for misdirected mail ends November 9, 2026.
- Current form editions must be used, as older versions are rejected.
- Online filing options remain limited to specific applicant categories.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) implemented new mailing locations for Form I-485, the application for permanent residence, effective October 7, 2026. Applicants are required to select the destination address based on their specific filing category.
A 30-day grace period is in effect for applications sent to previous locations, provided they are postmarked by November 9, 2026. After this date, applications sent to incorrect addresses risk rejection, which would result in the loss of the original filing date.
The agency emphasized that only the current form edition, dated September 18, 2026, is acceptable. Older versions, including those from January and early September 2026, will be rejected upon receipt.
While some employment-based applicants may file online, many family-based applicants and those filing with initial petitions must continue to submit paper applications. The filing fee for applicants aged 14 and older is $1,440 by mail or $1,390 for those eligible to file online.
Why It Matters
These procedural changes are significant for the large population of Indian nationals in the United States who are navigating the employment-based green card process. As many Indian applicants rely on H-1B visas and are subject to complex visa bulletin timelines, understanding the correct filing locations and avoiding application rejection is critical to maintaining their immigration status and priority dates.
Oct 28, 2026 · Updated 10/28/2026, 10:38:59 PM · Reported with: VisaVerge
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