The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has made significant changes to key immigration forms. It has taken away the “Another Gender Identity” option from forms like Form I – 485, which is used for applying to adjust status.
Now, applicants can only choose between “Female” or “Male.”
This “Another Gender Identity” option was first added in 2023 during the Biden administration. It was meant to make the forms more inclusive for nonbinary and transgender applicants. But now, its removal is in line with recent policy changes under the Trump administration. For example, the State Department has also decided to get rid of the “X” gender marker on passports.
Alongside removing the gender identity option, USCIS has also brought back the term “alien.” This term is replacing “noncitizen” and “foreign national” in many parts of the forms. This includes areas related to public charge determinations and military service exemptions.
These changes affect several important forms. They are:
- Form I – 485 (Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status)
- Form I – 918 (Petition for U Nonimmigrant Status)
- Form I – 485 Supplement J (Confirmation of Valid Job Offer or Request for Job Portability)
- Form I – 485 Supplement A (Adjustment of Status Under Section 245(i))
- Form G – 325A (Biographic Information for Deferred Action)
- Form I – 134 (Declaration of Financial Support)
- Form I – 192 (Application for Advance Permission to Enter as a Nonimmigrant)
What This Means for Applicants
USCIS has not said anything publicly about why it removed the gender identity option. But this change could make the immigration process a lot harder for nonbinary and transgender applicants. Having only two gender options on government forms might cause legal and paperwork problems for people whose gender identity doesn’t match what’s on their other official documents.
Applicants who don’t identify as male or female will likely need to pick the option that most closely matches their other legal papers. If they leave the gender field blank, it could cause their application to be delayed or even rejected. If this form change affects your application, it’s a good idea to talk to an immigration attorney.
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