USCIS Protocol Changes May-June 2025 PART 1

A System in Flux: The Push for Modernization and Efficiency

From shifting forms and rising fees to new digital mandates and compliance requirements, the U.S. immigration system is undergoing a rapid and complex transformation. In this latest edition of our Immigration News Roundup, we examine the key updates from May to June 2025—sourced directly from our legal team—and explore what these changes mean for individuals and employers navigating the system today.

The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), under increasing pressure to modernize, secure its processes, and recover operational costs, has rolled out several significant changes over the past month. These updates reveal a system aiming for efficiency, but not without raising new barriers for applicants and petitioners alike.

The first and most critical update is the mandatory use of new form editions. As of recent months, applicants must use the exact edition of a USCIS form that becomes mandatory on a specified date. Using an outdated form—even just a day late—leads to automatic rejection. No grace periods, no exceptions. For example, the updated Form I-485 (Adjustment of Status) and Form I-129F (Petition for Fiancé(e)), both dated 01/02/2025, became mandatory in April and May respectively. Even employers filing Form I-129 for non-immigrant workers like H-1B or L-1 candidates face strict enforcement. In one case, the updated I-129 had no grace period at all, aligning with the H-1B modernization rule rolled out in January.

These forms haven’t just changed in date—they’ve changed in substance. Updated versions now include expanded sections related to fraud prevention, more specific questions, and even categories that tie directly into new digital workflows and rule changes. For instance, employers must now provide detailed attestations on employee qualifications and business roles directly on the form.

Introduction of Form G-325R: Digital Registration Requirement

Another major shift in recent Immigration News is the introduction of Form G-325R, a digital-only requirement that mandates certain non-citizens to register with USCIS. Effective April 11, 2025, this applies to any non-citizen aged 14 or older who has been physically present in the U.S. for more than 30 days and hasn’t previously been fingerprinted under INA Section 262. The stakes are high: failure to register can result in fines up to $5,000 or even incarceration.