I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status

For more information on updates to Form I-485, see this video.

Alert: The current edition date for Form I-485 is 03/10/21. Starting April 19, 2021, we will only accept the 03/10/21 edition. Until then, you can also use the 10/15/19 edition.

Alert: On Nov. 2, 2020, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois vacated the Inadmissibility on Public Charge Grounds final rule (84 Fed. Reg. 41,292 (Aug. 14, 2019), as amended by Inadmissibility on Public Charge Grounds; Correction, 84 Fed. Reg. 52,357 (Oct. 2, 2019)) (Public Charge Final Rule) nationwide. That decision was stayed by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. On March 9, 2021, the Seventh Circuit lifted its stay, and the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois’ order vacating the Public Charge Final Rule went into effect.

We immediately stopped applying the Public Charge Final Rule to all pending applications and petitions that would have been subject to the rule. USCIS continues to apply the public charge inadmissibility statute, including consideration of the statutory minimum factors in the totality of the circumstances, in accordance with the 1999 Interim Field Guidance, which was in place before the Public Charge Final Rule was implemented on Feb. 24, 2020, to the adjudication of any application for adjustment of status. In addition, USCIS will no longer apply the separate, but related, “public benefits condition” to applications or petitions for extension of nonimmigrant stay and change of nonimmigrant status.

On or after March 9, 2021, applicants and petitioners should not provide information required solely by the Public Charge Final Rule. That means that applicants for adjustment of status should not provide the Form I-944, Declaration of Self-Sufficiency, or any evidence or documentation required on that form with their Form I-485. Applicants and petitioners for extension of nonimmigrant stay and change of nonimmigrant status should not provide information related to the receipt of public benefits on Form I-129 (Part 6), Form I-129CW (Part 6), Form I-539 (Part 5), and Form I-539A (Part 3).

If an applicant or petitioner has already provided such information, and USCIS adjudicates the application or petition on or after March 9, 2021, we will not consider any information provided that relates solely to the Public Charge Final Rule, including, for example, information provided on the Form I-944, evidence or documentation submitted with Form I-944, and information on the receipt of public benefits on Form I-129 (Part 6), Form I-129CW (Part 6), Form I-539 (Part 5), and Form I-539A (Part 3).

If you received a Request for Evidence (RFE) or Notice of Intent to Deny (NOID) requesting information that is solely required by the Public Charge Final Rule, including but not limited to Form I-944, and your response is due on or after March 9, 2021, you do not need to provide the information solely required by the Public Charge Final Rule. However, you need to respond to the aspects of the RFE or NOID that otherwise pertain to the eligibility for the immigration benefit you are seeking. If USCIS requires additional information or evidence to make a public charge inadmissibility determination under the statute and consistent with the 1999 Interim Field Guidance, we will send you another RFE or NOID. For information about the relevant court decisions, please see the litigation summary.

USCIS published new form editions for affected forms. Starting April 19, 2021, we will only accept the 03/10/21 editions. Until then, you can also use the prior editions specified on each form webpage.

On Jan. 8, we adjusted the filing locations for certain Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status. Please review our Direct Filing Addresses for Form I-485 page to see where you should file your application.

NOTE: Form I-485 is now used to collect information previously collected on Form I-864W, Request for Exemption for Intending Immigrant’s Affidavit of Support. Adjustment applicants no longer need to file Form I-864W.

What This Form Can Help You Do

Become a Lawful Permanent Resident (Green Card Holder) Through a Job Offer

Become a Lawful Permanent Resident (Green Card Holder) Through Asylee Status

Become a Lawful Permanent Resident (Green Card Holder) Through Refugee Status

Green Card Eligibility

U.S. Citizen Petition for a Preference Relative to Become a Lawful Permanent Resident

U.S. Citizen Petition for an Immediate Relative to Become a Lawful Permanent Resident

Forms and Document Downloads

Form I-485 (PDF, 944.23 KB)

Instructions for Form I-485 (PDF, 1.4 MB)

Special Instructions for Liberian Refugee Immigration Fairness Applicants (PDF, 254.9 KB)

Form Details

03/10/21. Starting April 19, 2021, we will only accept the 03/10/21 edition. Until then, you can also use the 10/15/19 edition. You can find the edition date at the bottom of the page on the form and instructions.

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.

Varies.

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. Service centers are not able to process credit card payments.

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 Services Fee	Total
Under 14 and filing with the I-485 application of at least one parent	$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, 254.9 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.

Last Reviewed/Updated:

03/19/2021