Starting today, March 3, 2025, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has implemented updates to several immigration forms, including the widely used Green Card application, Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status. The new versions, dated January 20, 2025, replace the previous editions from October 24, 2024. These updates introduce notable changes in terminology and inclusivity, reflecting the current administration’s policies and marking a shift from previous approaches to immigration documentation.
One of the most significant changes in the new Form I-485 is the reduction of gender identity options. The previous edition allowed applicants to select from “Female,” “Male,” and “Another Gender Identity.” However, the updated form limits these options to just “Female” and “Male,” eliminating the “Another Gender Identity” category. This adjustment aligns with an executive order from the current administration, which mandates that gender identification on government documents be restricted to male and female.

The terminology used in the forms has also changed, with the reintroduction of the term “alien.” In the October 2024 edition, “foreign national” and “noncitizen” were used to describe individuals. The new edition replaces these terms with “alien” in multiple sections, including the public charge section and questions about military service exemptions.
Beyond Form I-485, these updates extend to several other immigration-related documents, all bearing the January 20, 2025, edition date and taking effect on March 3, 2025. These include Form I-918, Petition for U Nonimmigrant Status; Form I-485 Supplement J, Confirmation of Valid Job Offer or Request for Job Portability Under INA Section 204(j); and Form I-485 Supplement A, Adjustment of Status Under Section 245(i). Additionally, Form G-325A, Biographic Information (for Deferred Action); Form I-134, Declaration of Financial Support; and Form I-192, Application for Advance Permission to Enter as a Nonimmigrant, have also been revised.
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These updates are part of a broader initiative by the current administration to align immigration paperwork with executive orders issued by President Donald Trump. This policy shift is already evident in other areas, such as the U.S. Department of State’s removal of the “X” gender marker from passport applications, limiting passport gender designations to “Male” or “Female.”