September 7, 2000

INS Reminds Public to Use New Adjustment of Status Form I-485
New Form Offers Streamlined and Immediate Registration with Selective Service

WASHINGTON – Eligible aliens who are seeking to become a legal permanent resident or "green card" holder and have not yet filed an adjustment of status application should use the new Form I-485 (Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status)—revised on February 7, 2000– when submitting their application to the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS). INS will no longer accept old versions of the form after September 30, 2000.

With the new Form I-485, young men between the ages of 18 and 25 will be registered automatically with the Selective Service when INS receives their application for adjustment of status. Under the law, male legal permanent residents between the ages of 18 and 25 must register with the Selective Service, failure to do so can lead to the denial of a naturalization petition. With the old form INS had to wait until the application was adjudicated before sending registration information to the Selective Service. This posed a problem for some males who needed to register when they filed their application but were too old once INS had adjudicated their petition. This streamlined process eliminates this potential problem.

In the interest of customer service, INS has continued to accept older versions of the form during a transition period, which will end on September 30, 2000. After September 30, 2000, only the new form will be accepted. INS will return any application that is made using older versions of the form.

Where can I get the new form?

The new Form I-485 can be downloaded from the INS website, www.ins.usdoj.gov or can be ordered from the INS National Customer Service Center by calling toll free, 1-800-375-5283 (TTY 1-800-767-1833).

How do I know I am using the new form?

The new form has "(02/07/00 Rev.)N" specified on the bottom right corner of every page.

Why did INS change the form?

INS revised Form I-485 (Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status) on February 7, 2000, to incorporate recent significant statutory, regulatory and policy changes. In addition to the new Selective Service registration the new form:

• Explain how applicants can travel outside of the United States without adversely affecting their applications;
• Warn applicants that if they were unlawfully present in the United States after April 1, 1997 travel outside of the United States could trigger either a 3- or 10-year bar to admission to the United States under provisions of the 1996 Immigration Act;
• Clarify when applicants need to submit their required medical examination report;
• Contain information about how to file the Affidavit of Support; and
• Address other technical issues.

What happens if I use the old form after September 30, 2000?

INS offices have been instructed to reject any application they receive after September 30, 2000, that is made with an old version of Form I-485. Your application will be returned to you with either a copy of the new form for you to use or instructions on how you can obtain the new form.

What has INS done to ensure that the public is aware of this new form?

INS distributed a memo to its field offices about the new Form I-485 form on July 26, 2000, instructing them to continue to accept the old form until September 30, 2000. INS also distributed the memo to more than 1,300 community-based organizations, including the American Immigration Lawyers Association. INS is also urging its field offices to meet with their local community and press contacts to make sure that they are aware of the new form.

What has INS done to ensure that the new version of the form is widely available?

The new form has been placed on the INS website, and has been distributed to all INS Form Centers and field offices. Copies of the new form can be obtained from the INS website, www.ins.usdoj.gov or can be ordered from the INS National Customer Service Center by calling toll free, 1-800-375-5283 (TTY 1-800-767-1833).

– INS –