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USCIS Opens New International Field Office in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Marking Major Expansion of Overseas Fraud Prevention Operations

USCIS will open a new international field office in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on September 9, 2026, dedicated to document verification, fraud investigation, and DNA collection to confirm family relationships. The move represents a significant expansion of the agency's overseas footprint in Africa, coming alongside revised editions of Forms I-539 and I-765 set for mandatory use beginning September 15.

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USCIS Updates

USCIS Moves to Mandate Electronic Filing for Immigration Forms Under New Interim Final Rule

A new DHS interim final rule, effective August 11, 2026, gives USCIS the authority to require electronic filing for any immigration form that has been available online for at least 180 days. While no forms are immediately affected, the rule sets the stage for a sweeping transition away from paper-based filings, raising questions about accessibility for applicants with limited access to technology.

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USCIS Updates

USCIS Issues Updated Public Charge Guidance — New Form I-485 Required Starting September 18, With No Grace Period

USCIS will begin requiring a new edition of Form I-485 on September 18, 2026, tied to a sweeping public charge final rule that rescinds the 2022 Biden-era framework. Under the new standard, officers may consider a far broader range of means-tested public benefits — including Medicaid, SNAP, and housing assistance — when adjudicating green card applications, making filing timing a critical factor for applicants.

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USCIS Updates

USCIS Opens New International Field Office in Ethiopia, Expanding Fraud Prevention Operations as Africa Faces Sweeping Visa Processing Changes

USCIS announced the opening of a new international field office in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, set to begin operations on September 9, 2026, focused on document verification, fraud investigation, and DNA-based family relationship testing. The expansion comes amid a broader—and controversial—realignment of U.S. visa services across Africa that has consolidated processing from 50 consular posts down to 20 regional hubs.

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USCIS Updates

New Public Charge Rules and Revised Form I-485 Take Effect September 18, Expanding Benefits Scrutiny for Green Card Applicants

USCIS's new public charge guidance takes effect September 18, 2026, implementing DHS's final rule that rescinded the 2022 Biden-era regulations. Under the new framework, receipt of any means-tested public benefit — including SNAP, Medicaid, and housing assistance — may be considered in adjustment of status determinations, and applicants must use a revised Form I-485 with no grace period for the transition.

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USCIS Updates

USCIS to Overhaul Three Core Immigration Forms in September 2026: What Applicants Must Know About the I-485, I-539, and I-765 Revisions

USCIS will publish revised editions of Forms I-539 and I-765 on September 15, 2026, and a revised Form I-485 on September 18, 2026, implementing sweeping policy changes on fixed-term admissions and public charge. With no grace period for any of the three forms, applicants who file the wrong edition face automatic rejection.

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USCIS Updates

USCIS to Require Revised Form I-485 Starting September 18 — No Grace Period for New Public Charge Edition

USCIS will mandate a revised edition of Form I-485 on September 18, 2026, with no grace period, as part of the sweeping new Public Charge Ground of Inadmissibility Final Rule. The updated form significantly expands public charge questions, broadens the range of benefits under scrutiny, and removes much of the explanatory guidance from the filing instructions — making careful preparation essential for all adjustment of status applicants.

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USCIS Updates

USCIS Issues Sweeping New Public Charge Guidance: What Green Card Applicants Must Know Before September 18, 2026

USCIS published extensive new guidance on August 18, 2026, dramatically expanding how officers will evaluate whether green card applicants are likely to become a public charge. Beginning September 18, receipt of any means-tested public benefit — including housing assistance, food stamps, and college financial aid — may factor into inadmissibility determinations, and a revised Form I-485 will become mandatory with no grace period for older editions.

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USCIS Updates

USCIS Issues Sweeping New Public Charge Guidance Taking Effect September 18, 2026

USCIS released extensive new policy guidance on August 18 explaining how officers will evaluate public charge inadmissibility under a broader standard that replaces the 2022 Biden-era rule. Starting September 18, receipt of any means-tested public benefit may be considered, a revised Form I-485 becomes mandatory, and applicants face significantly expanded scrutiny of their financial circumstances.

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USCIS Updates

USCIS to Release Revised Forms I-539 and I-765 on September 15, Implementing Fixed Admission Periods for F-1 and J-1 Visa Holders

USCIS will publish revised editions of Form I-539 and Form I-765 on September 15, 2026, with no grace period for prior versions. The updated forms implement DHS's final rule replacing "duration of status" with fixed four-year admission periods for F-1 students, J-1 exchange visitors, and I visa holders — a sweeping change now facing a federal legal challenge from a coalition of universities and labor unions.

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USCIS Updates

USCIS Mandates New Form I-485 Starting September 18 — No Grace Period for Public Charge Rule Changes

USCIS will require a revised Form I-485 beginning September 18, 2026, aligned with the new Public Charge Ground of Inadmissibility Final Rule. There will be no grace period — applications filed with the old edition on or after that date will be rejected outright, making filing timing critical for all green card applicants.

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