USCIS data: pending employment-based I-485 applications fall by about 41,000 to roughly 225,000
Key points
- Pending employment-based I-485s fell from about 266,000 to about 225,000, a drop of about 41,000
- Figures are estimates covering adjustment of status only
- USCIS has given no official explanation; one month is not a trend
USCIS snapshots show about 266,000 pending employment-based I-485s as of Sept. 3, 2026, down to about 225,000 by Oct. 5, a drop of roughly 41,000. The figures cover adjustment of status only and are estimates. USCIS has given no official explanation. The International Legal and Business Services Group says fiscal-year end and Visa Bulletin changes may have contributed; one month is not a trend.
What employers should do
- Monitor subsequent USCIS inventory data to see whether a trend forms
Original report: International Legal and Business Services Group ↗Edited with AI assistance. Facts are based on official sources and original reports. For information only; not legal, immigration or insurance advice.