If you are currently living in the United States and would like to adjust your status to that of a lawful permanent resident, you will first need to know all about Form I-485. This is one of the most important documents when it comes to getting a green card in the US, where careful completion and submission of this document is key to a successful outcome.
Section A: What is Form I-485?
Form I-485 (Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status) is one of the main immigration documents submitted to US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) when applying for a green card from within the United States. As the description of Form I-485 suggests, this form is for noncitizens to register permanent residence or to apply to adjust their status to that of a lawful permanent resident from the US.
Filing Form I-485 essentially means that you may get a green card without having to return to your home country to complete the necessary consular processing from overseas.
There are various ways for noncitizens to adjust their status to that of a lawful permanent resident, although the relevant requirements for adjustment of status may vary, as these are dependent on the immigrant category under which a green card is sought.
However, in all cases, to be eligible to file an adjustment of status application using Form I-485, you must be physically present in the United States. Provided you are physically present in the US, you may apply as a person who directly qualifies for an immigrant category (known as the “principal applicant”) or potentially as a family member of the principal applicant (known as a “derivative applicant”). Still, whether you are applying as a principal or derivative applicant, you must file your own separate Form I-485.
However, the very first step in the adjustment of status process is to determine if you fit within a specific immigrant category. To explore the different ways in which you may qualify for a green card, you can search the “Green Card Eligibility Categories” page on the USCIS website, where this lists all the possible categories that you can apply under. Family and employment-based green cards provide the most popular options, although there are other ways to apply for lawful permanent residence in the United States. As such, you are strongly advised to seek expert advice and assistance from a US immigration specialist to identity the best possible route available to you based on your personal circumstances.
Section B: How to file Form I-485
Most people who apply for a green card must complete at least the following two forms: an immigrant petition and a green card application. The petition form could include, for example, Form I-130 (Petition for Alien Relative) or Form I-140 (Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker). In most cases, someone else will need to file the petition on your behalf, although you may be eligible to file for yourself in certain scenarios, for example, in the case of Form I-526 (Immigrant Petition by Standalone Investor) or Form I-526E (Immigrant Petition by Regional Center Investor).
Additionally, unless your category of green card is eligible for concurrent filing, you will need an approved immigrant petition before filing Form I-485, and may also not file Form I-485 until a visa is immediately available in your green card category, where applicable. Importantly, concurrent filing is only possible where a visa number is available under the monthly Visa Bulletin, as directed by USCIS. For information on how to determine whether and when you will be eligible to adjust status and file Form I-485, refer to the “Visa Availability and Priority Dates” page on the USCIS website, as well as the “Adjustment of Status Filing Charts from the Visa Bulletin” page.
Once you are in a position to file your green card application using Form I-485, this form must be accompanied by a number of documents in support, where you can again view the form instructions on the USCIS website. There is also a useful checklist of required initial evidence for Form I-485 on the website, although this is for informational purposes only. To ensure that your green card application is complete, with the correct documentation in support, you should always seek expert advice from an immigration specialist.
1. How much does it cost to file Form I-485?
The filing fee for Form I-485 varies, based on your circumstances. However, in most cases, the fee will be a total of $1,440. This total includes biometrics, where required.
In some cases, where you are not required to enrol your biometrics for a green card, there will be no appointment fee. Further, if you are filing Form I-485 based on having been admitted to the US as a refugee, there will be no application or appointment fee.
2. Where do you file Form I-485?
The address for filing Form I-485 will depend on your eligibility category for a green card. There is a useful page on the USCIS website of direct filing addresses for Form I-485.
If you would like to receive an email or text that USCIS have accepted your Form I-485, you should also complete Form G-1145 (E-Notification of Application/Petition Acceptance), and attach it to the first page of your green card application.
Section C: Can Form I-130 & I-485 be filed at the same time?
For most green card categories, you must have an approved immigrant petition before filing your Form I-485. However, some categories will allow you to file Form I-485 at the same time that your immigrant petition is filed or while that petition is pending. This is referred to as “concurrent filing”, where concurrent filing is always allowed for immediate relatives of United States citizens using Form I-130 (Petition for Alien Relative). An immediate relative can include the spouse, any unmarried children under 21 and the parents of a US citizen, where there are no numeric limitations for these particular categories of applicant.
In other cases, such as employment-based applicants, you must wait for a visa number to be available at the time of filing. It is only at this stage that a petition using Form I-140 (Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker), and the adjustment application can be filed concurrently. In some immigrant categories, even where a visa number is available at the time of filing, you may not be permitted to file concurrently, where you must first have an approved petition before being allowed to file Form I-485 for your adjustment of status. For certain self-petitioners, such as EB-1A extraordinary ability applicants and EB-2 NIW applicants, concurrent filing may also be possible when a visa is available.
To be treated as concurrently filed, the immigrant visa petition (in this case Form I-130) and the adjustment of status application (Form I-485) must be filed at the same time and mailed together with all the required fees and supporting documentation to the same filing location. However, these forms will also be considered concurrently filed if Form I-485 is filed after Form I-130, but while the immigrant visa petition still remains pending.
When adjudicating concurrent filings, USCIS will determine the eligibility for the immigrant visa petition first, although the adjustment application will usually be considered at the same time when it comes to the immediate relatives of US citizens. For other green card categories, if a visa number remains available for your category and your Form I-485 is approvable, USCIS will usually consider the adjustment application at the same time.
Section D: After filing Form I-485
After filing Form I-485, USCIS will mail you a notice with the date, time and location for a biometrics services appointment at a local Application Support Center (ASC) using Form I-797C. Your Form I-797C notice will provide instructions on what you must bring along to your ASC appointment, including your appointment notice and a valid photo ID.
At your ASC appointment, you will be asked to sign an acknowledgment certifying that you reviewed all the information in Form I-485 and that this was complete, true and correct at the time of filing. If you do not sign the acknowledgment, your Form I-485 may be denied. Equally, you must provide your biometric information, where requested by USCIS, as this will be used to verify your identity, as well as to conduct required background and security checks. This will include a scan of your fingerprints and a digitized photo of your face.
USCIS may also deny your Form I-485 if you miss your ASC appointment without properly notifying USCIS and requesting that your appointment be rescheduled. If you need to reschedule your ASC appointment, you must make the request through your USCIS online account or call the USCIS Contact Center. Your rescheduling request must also be made before the date and time of your original appointment, and establish a good reason for rescheduling. If you fail to request to reschedule before your existing appointment, or if you fail to establish good cause, USCIS may consider your application abandoned.
In addition to attending a biometrics appointment, you may be asked to attend an interview as part of your green card application. If USCIS schedule an interview, you will be required to attend at a USCIS office to answer various questions about your Form I-485 under oath or affirmation. Again, USCIS will send you a notice with the date, time and location of your interview. When attending an interview, where applicable, you must bring originals of all supporting documents submitted with Form I-485. You may also need to attend with your US sponsor, for example, if a family member filed your immigrant petition.
Section E: Form I-485 Approved
Once USCIS makes a decision on your application, they will send you a written notice. If your application for a green card is approved, you will generally receive an approval notice first (Form I-797) and your permanent resident card, also known as your green card, shortly after. If there are delays in receiving the physical card, the approval notice can serve as temporary evidence of permanent resident status.
If USCIS deny your application, the decision notice will tell you the reason(s) for this and whether you may appeal the decision. Generally, you cannot appeal a decision to deny an adjustment of status application. Still, even if you cannot appeal, you may be able to file a motion to reopen or reconsider your application using Form I-290B (Notice of Appeal or Motion). In addition, a denied Form I-485 can in some cases be renewed before an immigration judge in removal proceedings. More information on appeals and motions can be found on USCIS website, although you are strongly advised to seek immediate specialist help in these circumstances.
Section F: How long does it take to get a green card after Form I-485 approval?
The total process to obtain a green card can often take between 12 and 24 months, in some cases far longer depending on your immigrant category, the applicable priority date, and USCIS workload. However, there are several ways in which you can help to prevent any unnecessary delays in the adjudication of your Form I-485 by USCIS, including:
- filing all required initial evidence and documentation in support at the same time as filing Form I-485, where this may minimize the likelihood of you receiving a Request for Evidence (RFE) to provide additional information and/or documentation. Importantly, if you do not respond to an RFE within the prescribed time, USCIS may deny Form I-485.
- submitting your Form I-693, Report of Immigration Medical Examination and Vaccination Record, at the same time as filing your Form I-485. Importantly, if you are required to submit Form I-693, USCIS cannot approve your Form I-485 without this. USCIS now considers a completed Form I-693 signed by a civil surgeon on or after November 1, 2023 to remain valid indefinitely.
- ensure that you use the current edition for Form I-485 (edition date 04/01/24). You can find the form edition date on the bottom of each page, where dates are listed in a mm/dd/yy format. If you complete and print Form I-485 to mail it, the edition date and page numbers must all be from the same edition and visible at the bottom of all pages. If any pages are either missing or from a different form edition, USCIS may reject your form.
- ensure that your Form I-485, together with any supporting documentation, is mailed to the correct address, otherwise risk this resulting in processing delays. USCIS will also reject any green card application that is not accompanied by the correct filing fee.
Section G: Need assistance?
Adjustment of status is one of the most scrutinized stages in the US immigration process. Errors on Form I-485 or gaps in supporting evidence can result in long delays, requests for further information, or outright denial. Our team advises employers, families and individual applicants on all aspects of the green card process. Contact us for tailored guidance to ensure your application is complete and strategically managed.
Section H: FAQs
Who can file Form I-485?
You can file Form I-485 if you are physically present in the United States and are eligible under an immigrant category with an available visa. Categories include family-based, employment-based, humanitarian, and special immigrant routes. Some applicants may self-petition, such as EB-1A or EB-2 NIW applicants, if a visa number is available.
Can I work while my I-485 is pending?
Yes, but only if you obtain employment authorization. You can apply for this using Form I-765 at the same time as Form I-485. Until your Employment Authorization Document (EAD) is approved, you cannot lawfully work in the US.
Can I travel while my I-485 is pending?
Travel is not permitted unless you obtain advance parole by filing Form I-131 with your application. Leaving the US without advance parole will usually result in your I-485 being treated as abandoned, unless you hold certain dual-intent nonimmigrant visas like H-1B or L-1.
How do I track the progress of my Form I-485?
You can check your case status online at the USCIS website using your receipt number. Processing times vary widely, typically between 12 and 24 months, depending on your immigrant category and local USCIS field office workload.
Do children need to file their own Form I-485?
Yes. Every applicant, including children, must submit a separate Form I-485. A child may qualify as a derivative applicant on a parent’s petition, but still needs to file their own adjustment of status application.
Can my I-485 be denied after the interview?
Yes. If USCIS finds you ineligible, identifies inadmissibility issues, or believes supporting documents are insufficient, your application can be denied. Some denials can be renewed in immigration court or challenged by filing a motion to reopen or reconsider.
Is Form I-693 medical exam required?
Yes, in most cases. A completed medical exam is required before USCIS can approve your Form I-485. If signed by a civil surgeon on or after November 1, 2023, the exam is valid indefinitely, and does not need to be repeated.
What happens if my priority date retrogresses after I file?
If the visa bulletin later shows your category as unavailable, USCIS will pause adjudication of your I-485 until your priority date is current again. Your application will not be denied solely because of retrogression.
Can I appeal a denied Form I-485?
You generally cannot appeal directly. However, you may file a motion to reopen or reconsider using Form I-290B, or you may be able to renew your adjustment request before an immigration judge if you are placed in removal proceedings.
Section I: Glossary
| Adjustment of Status (AOS) | The process of applying for lawful permanent resident status from inside the United States without returning abroad for consular processing. |
| Advance Parole | Travel authorization issued by USCIS that allows an I-485 applicant to leave and re-enter the US while the adjustment application is pending. |
| Biometrics Appointment | An appointment at a USCIS Application Support Center where fingerprints, a photo, and a signature are collected for background checks. |
| Concurrent Filing | When a qualifying immigrant petition (e.g. Form I-130 or I-140) and Form I-485 are filed together, provided a visa number is available. |
| Derivative Applicant | A family member (spouse or child) of the principal applicant who applies for a green card through the same immigrant category. |
| Form I-130 | Petition for Alien Relative, filed to establish a qualifying family relationship for a green card application. |
| Form I-140 | Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker, filed by an employer to sponsor a worker for permanent residence. |
| Form I-485 | Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, the main form used to apply for a green card from inside the US. |
| Form I-693 | Report of Immigration Medical Examination and Vaccination Record, required before USCIS can approve Form I-485. |
| Form I-765 | Application for Employment Authorization, which allows an I-485 applicant to work while their case is pending. |
| Form I-797 | Notice of Action, used by USCIS to communicate case updates, approvals, or requests for evidence. |
| Form I-131 | Application for Travel Document, used to request advance parole while a green card application is pending. |
| Priority Date | The date when an immigrant petition is filed, used to determine visa availability under the Visa Bulletin. |
| Visa Bulletin | A monthly publication by the US Department of State showing visa number availability for each immigrant category and country of chargeability. |
| USCIS | United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, the agency responsible for processing immigration applications, including Form I-485. |
Author
Founder & Principal Attorney Nita Nicole Upadhye is a recognized leader in the field of US business immigration law, (The Legal 500, Chambers & Partners, Who's Who Legal and AILA) and an experienced and trusted advisor to large multinational corporates through to SMEs. She provides strategic immigration advice and specialist application support to corporations and professionals, entrepreneurs, investors, artists, actors and athletes from across the globe to meet their US-bound talent mobility needs.
Nita is an active public speaker, thought leader, immigration commentator, and immigration policy contributor and regularly hosts training sessions for employers and HR professionals.