I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status
For more information on updates to Form I-485, see this video.
Alert: To improve efficiency and reduce Form I-765 processing times for Form I-485 applicants, USCIS may decouple Forms I-765 from Forms I-131 filed at the same time.
To improve efficiency and reduce Form I-765 processing times for Form I-485 applicants, USCIS may decouple Forms I-765 from Forms I-131 filed at the same time. Effective Feb. 1, 2022, when possible, USCIS will adjudicate the request for employment authorization first and, if it is approved, we will issue an Employment Authorization Document without any notation about advanced parole. We will adjudicate the Form I-131 separately and, if it is approved, we will issue an Advance Parole Document.
ALERT: There are an exceptionally high number of employment-based visas available this fiscal year (October 2021 through September 2022).
There are an exceptionally high number of employment-based visas available this fiscal year (October 2021 through September 2022). In partnership with the U.S. Department of State, we are committed to attempting to use all these visa numbers. There are many more visas available in the first (priority workers) and second (workers with advanced degrees or of exceptional ability) employment-based categories than adjustment of status applications pending with USCIS.
If you are eligible, please consider applying in the first or second employment-based preference categories. If you have a pending adjustment of status application based in the third employment-based preference category but also have a pending or approved petition and an available visa in the second employment-based preference category, we strongly encourage you to request that USCIS “transfer the underlying basis” of your pending application to the second employment-based preference category.
For more information, please see the section called “Transfer of Underlying Basis” on the Green Card for Employment-Based Immigrants page on our website.
ALERT: If you are an Afghan parolee with an approved Form I-360, Petition for Amerasian, Widow(er), or Special Immigrant, as an Afghan employed by or on behalf of the U.S. government or International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan, and you did not complete Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, at a safe haven, we encourage you to file Form I-485 as soon as possible to apply to become a lawful permanent resident and get a Green Card.
If you are an Afghan parolee with an approved Form I-360, Petition for Amerasian, Widow(er), or Special Immigrant, as an Afghan employed by or on behalf of the U.S. government or International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan, and you did not complete Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, at a safe haven, we encourage you to file Form I-485 as soon as possible to apply to become a lawful permanent resident and get a Green Card. You must provide a U.S. address to file Form I-485. If your address changes, you must notify us of your new address within 10 days by submitting Form AR-11, Alien’s Change of Address Card. The fastest way to submit your AR-11 is online. Special filing instructions apply to those filing Form I-485 in this category. You do not have to pay the filing or biometric services fees for Form I-485 if you were paroled into the United States due to the humanitarian crisis and are applying for adjustment as an Afghan Special Immigrant.
Review filing instructions at the Green Card for an Afghan Who Was Employed by or on Behalf of the U.S. Government webpage, and see the Instructions for Form I-485 for complete filing information.
ALERT: Effective December 9, 2021, USCIS is temporarily waiving the requirement that the civil surgeon sign the Report of Medical Examination and Vaccination Record (Form I-693) no more than 60 days before the date the applicant files an Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status (Form I-485).
Effective December 9, 2021, USCIS is temporarily waiving the requirement that the civil surgeon sign the Report of Medical Examination and Vaccination Record (Form I-693) no more than 60 days before the date the applicant files an Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status (Form I-485). It is still in the best interest of applicants to undergo the immigration medical examination close to the time of filing the Form I-485, as the Form I-693 only retains its evidentiary value for 2 years from the date of the civil surgeon’s signature. After the 2-year timeframe, the applicant would need to submit a new Form I-693 if USCIS has not adjudicated the Form I-485. This temporary waiver is effective until September 30, 2022.
If you have filed an Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status (Form I-485) in an employment-based category and USCIS issued you a Request for Evidence (RFE) for your Form I-693, you should respond as soon as possible so we can complete the processing of your adjustment application.
What This Form Can Help You Do
Form Details
Dates are listed in mm/dd/yy format.
Where you file your Form I-485 depends on your eligibility category. Go to the Direct Filing Addresses for Form I-485 page to see where you should file your application.
Filing Tips: Go to our Form Filing Tips page for information on how to help ensure we will accept your form.
Don’t forget to sign your form. We will reject any unsigned form.
If you file at a USCIS lockbox, you may not receive an A-Number on your Form I-797, Notice of Action, due to a change in our business process. In these cases, we will send your A-Number in a second notice a few days after accepting your application.
Save time by filing Form I-693, Report of Medical Examination and Vaccination Record, with Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status. USCIS generally considers a completed Form I-693 to retain its evidentiary value for two years after the date the civil surgeon signed Form I-693. Effective Dec. 9, 2021 until Sept. 30, 2022, USCIS is temporarily waiving the requirement that the civil surgeon’s signature be dated no more than 60 days before the Form I-485 is filed.
You are not required to file the Form I-693 at the same time you file Form I-485. While some applicants intend to bring their completed Form I-693 to their interview, some applications may not require an interview. USCIS makes decisions to waive interviews on a case-by-case basis.
Filing Form I-485 and Form I-693 at the same time may eliminate the need for us to issue an RFE to obtain your Form I-693. This may also help avoid adjudication delays if we decide that you do not need to be interviewed.
See the chart below for filing fees based on your category.
You may pay the fee with a money order, personal check, or cashier’s check. When filing at a USCIS lockbox facility, you may also pay by credit card using Form G-1450, Authorization for Credit Card Transactions. If you pay by check, you must make your check payable to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
When you send a payment, you agree to pay for a government service. Filing and biometric service fees are final and non-refundable, regardless of any action we take on your application, petition, or request, or if you withdraw your request. Use our Fee Calculator to help determine your fee.
Read our Paying USCIS Fees page for more details.
If You Are… | Form Fee | Biometric | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
Under 14 and filing with the I-485 | $750 | $0 | $750 |
Under 14 and not filing with the I-485 application of at least one parent | $1,140 | $0 | $1,140 |
Age 14–78 | $1,140 | $85 | $1,225 |
Age 79 or older | $1,140 | $0 | $1,140 |
Filing Form I-485 based on having been admitted to the United States as a refugee | $0 | $0 | $0 |
View the checklist of required initial evidence.
Final Rule on Public Charge Ground of Inadmissibility
If you are requesting an extension of stay or change of status, you may be subject to the new public benefit condition. For more information, please see our Public Charge page.
INA 245(i)
If you are seeking to adjust status under the provisions of section 245(i) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, see Supplement A for additional instructions.
Filing I-485 Supplement J
If you are filing Form I-485 together with a Form I-140 that names you as the principal beneficiary, you do not need to file Supplement J.
However, you must file Supplement J if you are filing Form I-485 based on a previously filed Form I-140 or if you are requesting job portability to a new, permanent job offer under INA section 204(j). Go to our Form I-485, Supplement J page for specific instructions on when and how to file Supplement J.
Adjustment of Status for Liberian Nationals and Certain Family Members
Section 7611. Liberian Refugee Immigration Fairness (LRIF), pages 1112-1115 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 (PDF), allows eligible Liberian nationals and certain family members to adjust status. If you are filing Form I-485 based on LRIF, refer to our Special Instructions for Liberian Refugee Immigration Fairness Applicants (PDF, 310.5 KB). For more information about LRIF, see our Liberian Refugee Immigration Fairness page.
On your Form I-485, in Part 2, you must choose “Other Eligibility”. In the text box, write “LRIF” to indicate you are applying to adjust status based on Liberian Refugee Immigration Fairness. If you are applying as a family member of an LRIF-eligible Liberian national, write “LRIF family member” in the text box.
You may file Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, with your Form I-485 or while it is pending. If you file Form I-765, write “(c)(9)” as your eligibility category for Part 2, Item Number 27 on your Form I-765.
Filing Forms I-765 and I-131 with Form I-485
If you submit Form I-485 and pay the required fee, you do not have to pay an additional fee to also file Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, and/or Form I-131, Application for Travel Document, for advance parole. You may submit these forms together. If you choose not to file Form I-765 and/or Form I-131 with your Form I-485, then you must submit a copy of your I-797C, Notice of Action, (also known as your receipt) as evidence that you filed Form I-485.
Which Box to Check in Part 2 of Form I-485
Before filing a Form I-485 based on a family-sponsored or employment-based preference category, check our Visa Bulletin page to see if your priority date makes you eligible to apply.
If you are the principal applicant, check the appropriate box in Part 2, Item Numbers 1 of Form I-485 and check the appropriate box in Part 2, Item Numbers 2.a. through 8.e.
If you are the derivative spouse or child of the principal applicant, check the appropriate box in Part 2, Item Numbers 1 of Form I-485 and check the appropriate box in Part 2, Item Numbers 2.a. through 8.e.
For more information on the Visa Bulletin or the charts, please go to our Visa Availability and Priority Dates page.
Premium Processing
You may file Form I-485 and Form I-140 together at the USCIS Dallas Lockbox.
If you are requesting premium processing for Form I-140, you must also file Form I-907, Request for Premium Processing Service. Refer to our Direct Filing Addresses for Form I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker, page if you want to file Forms I-485, I-140, and I-907 together. Do NOT file Form I-907 at a USCIS lockbox facility.
If you are filing Form I-485 based on a pending or approved Form I-140, go to our Direct Filing Addresses for Form I-485 page to see where to file your application.
Read the Employment-Based Preferences chart in the Department of State’s Visa Bulletin page to ensure your priority date is current before you file your application.
E-Notification: If you want to receive an email and/or text message when we accept your form at a USCIS lockbox facility, complete Form G-1145, E-Notification of Application/Petition Acceptance, and clip it to the first page of your application.
Attorney or representative: You may be represented, at no expense to the U.S. government, by an attorney or other authorized representative. Your representative must submit Form G-28, Notice of Entry or Appearance as Attorney or Representative, with your Form I-485. Your representative may also submit Form G-28 at the time of your interview.
- Card Delivery Tracking
- Immigration Benefits in EOIR Removal Proceedings
- Filing Directions to Obtain Employment Authorization and Advance Parole Card Where Adjustment of Status Application is Pending
- I-693,Report of Medical Examination and Vaccination Record
- How USCIS Determines Same or Similar Occupational Classifications for Job Portability Under AC21
- USCIS Policy Manual, Volume 7, Adjustment of Status
- Public Charge