A lawsuit has been filed against the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) in a U.S. court after the agency issued new versions of application forms for American green cards, naturalization, and travel documents without providing a grace period or prior notice, effective immediately. The American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) and Benach Collopy LLP filed the lawsuit on Friday in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, seeking immediate relief.
According to AILA, despite repeated inquiries to USCIS about whether the agency would implement a grace period for these forms following the announcement of the new versions, no response was received, prompting the lawsuit.
USCIS updated 12 forms between February 24 and March 4, 2025. All new editions are dated January 20, 2025. The agency has warned that any applications submitted using the old versions may be rejected.
These updates began on February 24, 2025. Forms such as Form I-941, Application for Entrepreneur Parole; Form I-914, Application for T Nonimmigrant Status; and Form I-356, Request for Cancellation of Public Charge Bond, were all updated with the new edition date of 01/20/25.
On March 3, 2025, USCIS updated additional forms. 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); Form I-485 Supplement A, Supplement A to Form I-485, Adjustment of Status Under Section 245(i); Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status; 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. All these forms now bear the edition date of 01/20/25.
On March 4, 2025, USCIS rolled out updated versions of Form I-131, Application for Travel Documents, Parole Documents, and Arrival/Departure Records, and Form N-400, Application for Naturalization. Both forms also have the edition date of 01/20/25.
This sudden change has sparked concern among applicants and immigration lawyers. Some applicants unknowingly submitted old versions of forms like Form I-485 or Form N-400 even after the new editions took effect. The updated forms feature significant changes in terminology and inclusivity, reflecting the policies of the current Trump administration.
The previous versions of these forms, such as Form I-131 and Form I-918, allowed applicants to choose from three gender options—male, female, and another gender identity—but the new versions limit the options to male and female only. While the old forms used gender-neutral terms and the word “noncitizen,” the new editions, including Form I-485 and Form G-325A, use male- and female-specific terms and the word “alien.” These new editions are considered less inclusive than their predecessors.
Following the Trump administration’s reintroduction of terms like “alien” and “illegal alien” to describe noncitizens and immigrants, forms such as Form I-134 and Form I-192 have been updated accordingly. The term “alien” has also started appearing in other government documents, including those from USCIS, ICE, and immigration courts.
Additionally, per an executive order issued by Trump, U.S. government documents, including Form N-400 and Form I-131, have begun specifying only “male” or “female” as gender options. The Trump administration continues to update various forms and documents, such as Form I-941 and Form I-914, in line with this policy.
The U.S. State Department had previously eliminated the option to mark “X” as a gender on passport application forms. Following the executive order, the “X” gender marker has been removed from U.S. passports as well. Going forward, passports will only list gender as either male or female, aligning with the changes seen in forms like Form I-485 and Form I-356.
Kishor Panthi
View More PostsKishor Panthi is the founder and editor-in-chief of Khasokhas and NepYork. He is the author of three books, “Kampan,” "UNTRANSLATABLE" and “Zero Mile.” He writes about social issues, immigration, and politics.
