Immigration Blog

March 15, 2025

USCIS offers grace period for new forms after lawsuit

Immigration lawyer reviewing immigration forms - USCIS offers grace period for new forms after lawsuit

In response to the litigation by AILA (The American Immigration Lawyers Association) , USCIS updated its forms webpage on March 8, 2025, to indicate a minimum one-month grace period for all forms issued in the past two weeks.

On March 3 and 4, USCIS suddenly replaced multiple forms with new editions, allowing only the updated versions for submission. No notice or grace period was provided. This left immigration attorneys and their clients facing the risk of having thousands of properly submitted forms rejected, even if mailed before the changes. AILA requested a grace period, but USCIS offered no clear guidance or relief, making litigation necessary.

The American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) and Benach Collopy, LLP, filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia against the Trump Administration, challenging the sudden implementation of immediate form changes that could negatively impact tens of thousands of AILA member attorneys and their clients.

Shortly after the lawsuit was filed, USCIS introduced a one-month grace period for older versions of immigration forms, including green card applications. The change follows a lawsuit challenging the agency’s abrupt implementation of new forms without prior notice.

Here are some of forms updated:

  • Form I-485 (Application for Permanent Residence Adjustment of Status) – New version effective March 3, 2025; old version accepted until April 3, 2025.
  • Form N-400 (Application for Naturalization) – New version effective March 4, 2025; old version accepted until April 4, 2025.
  • Form I-918 (Petition for U Nonimmigrant Status) – New version effective March 3, 2025; old version accepted until May 5, 2025.
  • Form G-1055 (Fee Schedule) – Updated March 6, 2025, with no prior version

Some other changes on other forms:

  • Forms with a March 24, 2025, grace period:
    • Form I-356 (Public Charge Bond)
    • Form I-914 (T Nonimmigrant Status)
    • Form I-941 (Entrepreneur Parole)
  • Forms with an April 3, 2025, grace period:
    • Form I-192 (Advance Permission to Enter)
    • Form I-134 (Financial Support)
    • Form G-325A (Biographic Info for Deferred Action)
    • Form I-485 (Green Card Application)
    • I-485 Supplement A (Adjustment of Status)
    • I-485 Supplement J (Job Offer Confirmation)
  • Forms with an April 4, 2025, grace period:
    • Form I-131 (Travel/Parole Documents)

If you are looking for more information about a particular immigration case, call the office of attorney Diana Bailey. With over 20 years of immigration experience, she will provide the best legal advice.