USCIS Protocol Changes May-June 2025 PART 2
USCIS Protocol Changes May-June 2025
What makes this requirement especially complex is that it applies to a wide spectrum of people—including those on temporary visas, asylum applicants, parolees, and possibly even former students or workers. The form must be filed online only, posing challenges for those with limited internet access or digital literacy.
In tandem with this, USCIS now expects Form I-693 (Medical Exam Report) to be submitted concurrently with the I-485 adjustment application. Previously, many applicants waited for a Request for Evidence (RFE) before providing this form. But under the new policy, failing to include it upfront can delay or derail adjudication. A temporary waiver does allow more flexibility regarding the doctor’s signature date, a policy rooted in pandemic-era difficulties, but the default expectation remains: medicals must be ready on day one.
Alongside these procedural updates come financial changes. As of April 2024, USCIS fee increases are fully in effect. Filing a green card application (I-485) now costs $1,440, and work permit applications (I-765) run $470 online or $520 by paper. In addition, separate payments are now strictly required for each form. If you submit a combined check for multiple forms, your entire packet will be rejected. It’s a rule that has already caused delays and denials for many applicants.
These changes are not only administrative—they’re deeply personal. Consider the legal team’s example of Maria and John, a couple navigating the marriage-based green card process. Maria, a chef from Mexico, and John, a food blogger from Seattle, carefully prepared their paperwork. They used the correct editions of each form, obtained a timely medical exam, and filed separate checks for every application. Maria also had to comply with the new G-325R registration—something that nearly tripped them up due to her limited internet access. With help from a local community center, they completed the process, underscoring how vulnerable applicants can still succeed with proper support.
On the business side, companies like TechTrend Innovations, which sponsored Priya Sharma for an H-1B visa, also faced new burdens. They had to ensure compliance with the updated I-129 form, assist Priya in filing G-325R, and submit over $3,500 in separate processing fees. Another case highlighted Elena Petrova, a marketing executive on an L-1 transfer, whose employer, Global Corp, had to document company relationships and job details with precision. In both cases, legal support and strict attention to new rules were essential to success.
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