DV 2025 AOS (Adjustment of Status) Process Only

[Sm1smom]

Hello mom hope you doing well. I am asking for a friend who is 2025AF0002xxx. As you can see they had an early number
1.she have already applied for for AOS and they received it By sept 29th they returned the file because of early filing she re send the file and they received it by oct 16th appointed her for finger print and was waiting for interview.
2. Today she received a denial decision based on they have exhausted the visas for this fiscal year .
My question is 1.why she was sent back the file at the beginning while it's in the reasonable period of filling.
2. About her denial decision can you explain why would that be a reason this early on the year .
3. What you recommend to do if you think she can fight this because i think they made a mistake.
Filling place is Virginia

1. File was received before the beginning of the FY, so they assumed it was for the 2023 FY. This is quite common, which is why I often recommend for selectees with lower CN to not send in AOS package prior to the start of their applicable FY.
2 & 3. I cannot effectively respond to either of these questions without seeing the denial notice. You can share the notice your friend received by PM with me, or post it in the forum here if you like (be sure to redact all person details on the notice before sharing).

 

[omarsn93]

2. Today she received a denial decision based on they have exhausted the visas for this fiscal year .

HUH???

 

[azatinusa]

UPDATED FORM I-485 PUBLISHED

USCIS has published a new edition of Form I-485, which included updated questions and instructions on Dec. 10, 2025.

Effective Feb 10, 2025, USCIS will only accept the 10/24/24 edition of Form I-485 and will reject any older editions of Form I-485 postmarked on or after Feb 10, 2025.

A quick glance seems to show a more simplified form. Highly recommend anyone who is yet to send in their AOS package as of today actually use the new form, in place of the old edition which is still acceptable until Feb. 9th. An updated pre-filled sample I-485 will be added to the AOS Process spreadsheet in due course.

Eagerly waiting for the new pre-filled sample I-485! In the meantime and since I won't be current until after Feb 10 for sure, I've been transferring my answers from the old form to the new form. Maybe it's me but I've been having some technical troubles filling in some blanks in the new form. For example, I cannot input any entry into the blank spaces for my SSN. Same issue on some other blanks. Issue persists even when using different PDF applications.

Anyway, here are a few specific questions I'm not sure about on the new form:

1. Part 3 - I assume the answer is 1.e. for all of us on this forum?
2. Part 4, Item 7 - Asks for all employment and educational history for last 5 years. There are 2 blank entries here: "Employer or School (current or most recent)" and "Name of Employer, Company, or School". I work on campus as F1 student. So would my answers be:
Employer or School (current or most recent). Answer SCHOOL
Name of Employer, Company, or School. Answer UNIVERSITY OF XXXX

 

[Sm1smom]

Eagerly waiting for the new pre-filled sample I-485! In the meantime and since I won't be current until after Feb 10 for sure, I've been transferring my answers from the old form to the new form. Maybe it's me but I've been having some technical troubles filling in some blanks in the new form. For example, I cannot input any entry into the blank spaces for my SSN. Same issue on some other blanks. Issue persists even when using different PDF applications.

Anyway, here are a few specific questions I'm not sure about on the new form:

1. Part 3 - I assume the answer is 1.e. for all of us on this forum?
2. Part 4, Item 7 - Asks for all employment and educational history for last 5 years. There are 2 blank entries here: "Employer or School (current or most recent)" and "Name of Employer, Company, or School". I work on campus as F1 student. So would my answers be:
Employer or School (current or most recent). Answer SCHOOL
Name of Employer, Company, or School. Answer UNIVERSITY OF XXXX

The new prefilled sample has since been uploaded in place of the previous version.

For the sections you’re unable to type into, you can use a black inked pen to handprint your response.

 

[shrek24]

exhausted the visas for this fiscal year .
My question is 1.why she was sent back the file at the beginning while it's in the reasonable period

Isn't it too early for exhaustion of visas?

 

[MaryJks]

Does anyone know if and how a government shutdown affects USCIS?

 

[SusieQQQ]

Does anyone know if and how a government shutdown affects USCIS?

From memory of previous ones, it doesn’t because USCIS is self-funded rather than using federal funds. Those fees you pay keep it going …

 

[SusieQQQ]

Isn't it too early for exhaustion of visas?

Yes of course. If this was the reason it was clear error (and in fact should be picked up by a supervisor review) but as mom noted one needs to see the actual letter before drawing firm conclusions.

 

[shrek24]

Is there something we can do if some of our information changes after we have filed the i-485, but it is still pending?
I know the change of address form exists.
I am talking about other situations. For example in my friend's case, who is in F1 status, he will receive an updated i-485 after his CPT is approved for a summer internship, but by that time, he will have already submitted his i485.

 

[Sm1smom]

Is there something we can do if some of our information changes after we have filed the i-485, but it is still pending?
I know the change of address form exists.
I am talking about other situations. For example in my friend's case, who is in F1 status, he will receive an updated i-485 after his CPT is approved for a summer internship, but by that time, he will have already submitted his i485.

He’s still in F1 status nonetheless, there’s nothing to report.

 

[azatinusa]

The new prefilled sample has since been uploaded in place of the previous version.

When I open the AOS Process Spreadsheet and go to the AOS Package tab, I see a link to a pre-filled sample I-485. When I open this PDF document, it's Edition 12/23/22 -- not Edition 10/24/24. Am I looking in the wrong place for the pre-filled 10/24/24 version?

 

[Sm1smom]

When I open the AOS Process Spreadsheet and go to the AOS Package tab, I see a link to a pre-filled sample I-485. When I open this PDF document, it's Edition 12/23/22 -- not Edition 10/24/24. Am I looking in the wrong place for the pre-filled 10/24/24 version?

Not sure why the new form didn’t get uploaded as intended. Will look into it later on. Here’s a direct link in the interim:

Pre-filled Sample I-485 Form

 

[omarsn93]

From memory of previous ones, it doesn’t because USCIS is self-funded rather than using federal funds. Those fees you pay keep it going...

Do they conduct background checks themselves or they collaborate with other government agencies? I'm afraid some delays will happen during this phase of the process.

 

[azatinusa]

Not sure why the new form didn’t get uploaded as intended. Will look into it later on. Here’s a direct link in the interim:

Pre-filled Sample I-485 Form

Perfect! Thank you

In Part 9, some questions are contigent on the previous question being answered 'yes'. For example, Q29 is to be answered only if Q28 is answered 'yes'. But in the sample I-485 I see that even if Q28 is 'no', Q29 is still being answered. Why? I would have thought to leave it blank.

 

[Sm1smom]

Perfect! Thank you

In Part 9, some questions are contigent on the previous question being answered 'yes'. For example, Q29 is to be answered only if Q28 is answered 'yes'. But in the sample I-485 I see that even if Q28 is 'no', Q29 is still being answered. Why? I would have thought to leave it blank.

You can leave it blank, if not applicable, or still go ahead and fill in the same response as the previous question as done on the sample form. Makes no difference to the process.