This is a Federal mass lawsuit challenging USCIS’s newly issued policy regarding Adjustment of Status (I-485) applications filed inside the United States.

This policy makes it harder to get a green card through Adjustment of Status if you're already living in the U.S. We believe this policy goes against federal immigration law, and we're suing USCIS to ask a federal judge to:

• Decide whether USCIS's new policy is actually legal;
• Stop USCIS from using this stricter standard on green card applications;
• Stop wrongful denials based on this policy; and
• Require USCIS to adjudicate applications in accordance with governing immigration laws and regulations.

Anyone with a pending Adjustment of Status application filed inside the U.S. can join.

This lawsuit is not for:

• People applying through asylum;
• People applying through refugee status;
• People applying through VAWA; or
• Anyone currently in removal (deportation) proceedings.

Adjustment of Status is the process that allows certain people already inside the United States to apply for lawful permanent residence (a green card) without leaving the country for consular processing abroad.

The lawsuit challenges USCIS Policy Memorandum PM-602 0199, issued on May 21, 2026, titled:

“Adjustment of Status is a Matter of Discretion and Administrative Grace, and an Extraordinary Relief that Permits Applicants to Dispense with the Ordinary Consular Visa Process.”

The policy tells officers to treat U.S.-based green card applications as a rare exception instead of the normal process, and to lean toward denying them.

Our legal team will argue that USCIS is overstepping its agency authority. This stricter approach is not just unfair, it conflicts with immigration law (the INA) and the law that controls how federal agencies must act (the APA), and it undercuts green card rights that Congress already created.

The lawsuit is directed against the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and the U.S. Government.

No. There are no guarantees of any outcome.

Even if the lawsuit is successful, USCIS will still review your case individually, and you will still need to meet all the normal requirements for a green card.

The legal fee is: $2,999 per client. Once the case is filed in Federal Court, the fee is considered fully earned. An additional fee of $850.00 will be added for each family member requesting to be represented as part of the lawsuit.

Usually not; it depends on whose case is the “main” one:

• $850 rate: If you're a spouse or child covered under someone else's petition (for example, a family covered by one I-130 or I-140), you pay the derivative rate.
• $2,999 rate: If your green card is based on your own, separate petition, you pay the full rate.

A derivative applicant is a family member, usually a spouse or unmarried child under 21, who qualifies for a green card because of someone else's case (the “principal applicant”), instead of filing their own separate petition. For example, if a parent is the main applicant, their spouse and children can often join as derivatives in that same case.

Yes. Submissions close on xxxxx at 6:00 p.m. PST.

Your flat fee covers everything needed to get the lawsuit started, including:

• Writing and filing the complaint;
• Officially notifying (serving) the government;
• Routine communication with the court and opposing lawyers;
• Negotiating with the government's attorneys;
• Asking the court to order USCIS to decide your case; and
• Closing out the lawsuit once it's resolved.

The fee does NOT include:

• One-on-one calls with your attorney;
• Appealing to a higher court;
• Refiling your immigration case if it's denied;
• Filing any immigration forms with USCIS or other agencies;
• Responding to Requests for Evidence (RFEs) or Notices of Intent to Deny (NOIDs);
• Interview preparation or representation;
• Extra motions or court filings after the initial complaint;
• Attending hearings or oral arguments;
• Any other court appearances;
• Any immigration issue unrelated to this lawsuit; or
• Emergency motions, like restraining orders, unless we separately agree to that in writing.

Instead of filing one lawsuit per person, we group everyone with a similar claim into a single federal case. We handle the strategy, paperwork, and court appearances together for the whole group.

The immigrant who has applied for Adjustment of Status will be named Plaintiff as they are directly affected by the policy.

There's no set timeline.

After filing the U.S. Government is served and they typically have up to 60 days to respond. After that, the case may proceed through motions, hearings, or settlement discussions. Timelines depend entirely on the Court and Government response.

We anticipate that the Government will defend the legality of the USCIS Policy, arguing that Adjustment of Status is a discretionary favor, not a right, and may ask the court to dismiss the case. We'll counter that USCIS overstepped its authority and broke the rules federal agencies have to follow.

That the court strikes down this restrictive policy and lets USCIS go back to processing Adjustment of Status applications normally.

If you provide false information, fail to cooperate, or stop responding to requests, you may be removed from representation. Other withdrawal conditions may also apply under the agreement.

After you pay and sign:

• You will receive an onboarding questionnaire
• Your eligibility and case details will be reviewed
• If you are found not eligible, your payment will be fully refunded

Because this is a group case with one flat fee, updates regarding the lawsuit, court filings, major developments, and responses to common questions will be provided through group communications, including group emails and, when appropriate, group video calls.

The representation provided through this mass lawsuit does not include individualized communications with the attorney. Communications will be handled collectively. If you want personal calls or your own legal strategy, you can hire the attorney separately, outside this group case.

As with any lawsuit, there are certain risks you should understand before joining. The case may take time to resolve, and the timeline is not something that can be predicted or controlled. The Court may ultimately rule in favor of the Government, and even if we win, your immigration outcome still depends on other factors outside this lawsuit.

Refunds are available only if the firm determines you are not eligible before filing. After the lawsuit is filed in Federal Court, the fee is non-refundable, regardless of outcome.

No direct payment to you. In some cases, federal law (the Equal Access to Justice Act) lets us recover attorney's fees from the government, but that money goes to the firm as payment for our work, not to you. If any court payment is mistakenly issued directly to you, you agree to sign it over to Goldstein Immigration Lawyers, P.C.

Your flat fee only covers the initial lawsuit in federal district court. If the case is appealed or needs further litigation after a decision, that's a separate stage requiring its own agreement and fee.

You will need to:

1. Sign the Representation Agreement;
2. Pay the required fee; and
3. Complete the onboarding questionnaire.