Applying for permanent US citizenship? USCIS warns of this common mistake to avoid

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services ( USCIS ) has advised applicants to carefully complete Form I-485 , warning that errors or omissions could result in visa rejection or processing delays. In a post on microblogging platform X (formerly known as Twitter), the immigration authority said “Applicants MUST properly complete Form I-485 per the form instructions.” “We highlight the public charge inadmissibility section in Part 9 of Form I-485, as some applicants have failed to fully respond to all required questions. Failure to comply may result in rejection or delays,” it further clarified.


What is Form I-485


Form I-485, also called the “Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status,” is the form used by individuals in the United States to apply for a green card. It allows eligible applicants to adjust their immigration status from a temporary visa or nonimmigrant status to lawful permanent resident.


The form collects personal information, background details, and financial information, including the public charge section, to determine eligibility for permanent residency. Completing Form I-485 accurately and fully is crucial, as mistakes or omissions can result in delays, requests for additional evidence, or even rejection of the application.


In the post, USCIS noted that incomplete responses in this section are a common reason for delayed or rejected applications.


Immigration experts stressed the importance of carefully reviewing all sections of the form. “Even small mistakes or omissions can cause significant setbacks in processing,” said an immigration attorney familiar with green card applications.


The update comes amidst the ongoing H-1B visa row. The Trump administration recently introduced an annual fee of $100,000 on H-1B visa applications starting September 21.


Explaining the move, Trump said “The H-1B nonimmigrant visa program was created to bring temporary workers into the United States to perform additive, high-skilled functions, but it has been deliberately exploited to replace, rather than supplement, American workers with lower-paid, lower-skilled labour”.