Adjustment of Status: Who May Apply, Form I-485 Filing Basics, Documents and Fees

Adjustment of status is the process that you can use to apply for lawful permanent resident (LPR) status (also known as applying for a Green Card) when you are present in the United States. This means that you may get LPR status without having to return to your home country to complete consular processing.

If you are not inside the United States, you must obtain your visa outside the United States through consular processing.

The status of an alien who was inspected and admitted or paroled into the United States or the status of any other alien having an approved petition for classification as a VAWA self-petitioner may be adjusted by the Attorney General, in his discretion and under such regulations as he may prescribe, to that of an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence if (1) the alien makes an application for such adjustment, (2) the alien is eligible to receive an immigrant visa and is admissible to the United States for permanent residence, and (3) an immigrant visa is immediately available to him at the time his application is filed.

(a) General. Any alien who is physically present in the United States, except for an alien who is ineligible to apply for adjustment of status under paragraph (b) or (c) of this section, may apply for adjustment of status to that of a lawful permanent resident of the United States if the applicant is eligible to receive an immigrant visa and an immigrant visa is immediately available at the time of filing of the application. A special immigrant described under section 101(a)(27)(J) of the Act shall be deemed, for the purpose of applying the adjustment to status provisions of section 245(a) of the Act, to have been paroled into the United States, regardless of the actual method of entry into the United States.

Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, is for a person in the United States to apply for lawful permanent resident status (often referred to as a “Green Card”). Throughout these Instructions, we will sometimes refer to Form I-485 as an application for adjustment of status or as an adjustment application. Read through and follow these Instructions and all instructions as written on the application.

You must be physically present in the United States to file this application. Additional eligibility requirements for adjustment of status may vary depending on the immigrant category in which you are applying. For more information on adjustment of status eligibility, go to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) website at www.uscis.gov/green-card/green-card-processes-and-procedures/adjustment-status. You may apply as the person who directly qualifies for an immigrant category (“principal applicant”) or, in some cases, as the spouse or the child of a principal applicant (“derivative applicant”). Whether you are a principal or derivative applicant, you must file your own Form I-485. See the Additional Instructions for more details.

You are generally ineligible for adjustment of status under INA section 245(a) if one or more adjustment bars in the INA apply to you. See INA sections 245(a), (c), (d), and/or (e).

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You may be able to adjust status under INA section 245(i) even if you are present in the United States without inspection and admission or parole, or are subject to one or more adjustment bars at INA section 245(c). See separate instructions for adjusting status under INA section 245(i), titled “Instructions for Form I-485 Supplement A,” by visiting www.uscis.gov/i-485supa. INA section 245(i) is not an immigrant category. In order to adjust status using INA section 245(i), you must be eligible for an immigrant visa under a family-based, employment-based, special immigrant, or Diversity Visa category. You must select one of the immigrant categories listed in Part 2. Application Type or Filing Category.

(b) Restricted aliens. The following categories of aliens are ineligible to apply for adjustment of status to that of a lawful permanent resident alien under section 245 of the Act, unless the alien establishes eligibility under the provisions of section 245(i) of the Act and § 245.10, is not included in the categories of aliens prohibited from applying for adjustment of status listed in § 245.1(c), is eligible to receive an immigrant visa, and has an immigrant visa immediately available at the time of filing the application for adjustment of status:

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(c) Ineligible aliens. The following categories of aliens are ineligible to apply for adjustment of status to that of a lawful permanent resident alien under section 245 of the Act:

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In general, you may not file your Form I-485 until an immigrant visa is immediately available in your category. For information on the process of adjusting status as a permanent resident, and how to determine whether and when you are eligible to adjust status and file Form I-485, see our Visa Availability and Priority Dates and Adjustment of Status Filing Charts from the Visa Bulletin pages. For exceptions to the visa availability requirement, please check the Form I-485 instructions for your specific immigrant category for additional information.

In general, if you are filing as a beneficiary of an immigrant visa petition (such as Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, Form I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Workers, or Form I-360, Petition for Amerasian, Widow(er), or Special Immigrant), you may file an adjustment application only after USCIS has approved your petition and an immigrant visa number is immediately available. There are, however, some immigrant categories that allow you to file Form I-485 before USCIS approves your petition (this is known as “concurrent filing”), provided that approval of the petition would make an immigrant visa number immediately available to you and you meet all other filing and eligibility requirements. See the Additional Instructions for category-specific information on when you may file Form I-485.

Most categories require you to have an approved immigrant petition before you can file a Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status. However, some categories may allow you to file your Form I-485 at the same time that the immigrant petition is filed or while the immigrant petition is pending. This is called “concurrent filing.” For more information on concurrent filing, see our Concurrent Filing page or the specific page for your eligibility category.

In general, you may not file your Form I-485 until a visa is available in your category. For information on visa availability, see the Visa Availability and Priority Dates page, the Adjustment of Status Filing Charts, and the Department of State website to view the Visa Bulletin.

For exceptions to the visa availability requirement, please check your specific immigrant category for more information.

Concurrent filing of Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, is when an adjustment of status application (Form I-485) is filed before the approval of the underlying immigrant visa petition. We will consider the immigrant visa petition and the Form I-485 concurrently filed when you file them at the same time and mail them together with all the required filing fees and supporting documentation to the same filing location. We also will consider them concurrently filed if you file the Form I-485 after the immigrant visa petition but while the immigrant visa petition remains pending.

We allow concurrent filing for all of the following applicants when we have jurisdiction over the application to adjust status:

Immediate relatives of U.S. citizens

Preference relatives of U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents when a visa number is immediately available;

Widow(ers) of a U.S. citizen;

Most employment-based applicants and their eligible family members when a visa number is immediately available;

Special Immigrant Juveniles if an EB-4 visa number is immediately available;

Self-petitioning battered spouse or child if:

The abusive spouse or parent is a U.S. citizen; or

If an immigrant visa number is immediately available;

Certain members of the armed forces applying for a special immigrant visa under Section 101(a)(27)(K) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA); and

Special Immigrant International Organization Employees or family members.

Concurrent filing cannot occur in consular processed cases, because the immigrant petition is filed with USCIS and the application for an immigrant visa is filed with the Department of State. Therefore, concurrent filing is only available for an applicant who is physically present in the United States and requesting to adjust to lawful permanent resident status (becomes a Green Card holder).

You may file your petition and application concurrently when there is a visa number immediately available at the time of filing. Concurrent filing is always allowed for all immediate relatives of a United States citizen because there are no numeric limitations in this category. However, in some categories, even if there is a visa number available at the time of filing, you may not be allowed to file concurrently unless you have an approved basis of eligibility (that is, an approved petition) before being allowed to file for adjustment of status. For more information on whether you can file concurrently, refer to the instructions on your immigrant petition:

Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative

Form I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker

Form I-360, Petition for Amerasian, Widow(er), or Special Immigrant

When adjudicating concurrent filings, we determine the eligibility for the immigrant visa petition first. If a visa number remains available for the immigrant classification and your Form I-485 is approvable (which, in certain cases, requires an interview), we will generally consider the adjustment application at the same time. We will mail separate decision notices for both forms.

(B) If, at the time of filing, approval of a visa petition filed for classification under section 201(b)(2)(A)(i), section 203(a) or section 203(b)(1), (2) or (3) of the Act would make a visa immediately available to the alien beneficiary, the alien beneficiary's adjustment application will be considered properly filed whether submitted concurrently with or subsequent to the visa petition, provided that it meets the filing requirements contained in parts 103 and 245. For any other classification, the alien beneficiary may file the adjustment application only after the Service has approved the visa petition.

(C) A visa petition and an adjustment application are concurrently filed only if:

(1) The visa petitioner and adjustment applicant each file their respective form at the same time, bundled together within a single mailer or delivery packet, with the proper filing fees on the same day and at the same Service office, or;

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You have 2 options for filing your Form I-485 with USCIS:

By mail (paper); or

Online

ALERT: On Sept. 18, 2026, USCIS published a revised edition of Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status (edition date: 09/18/26). The form has been revised to align with the recently announced Public Charge Ground of Inadmissibility Final Rule. There is no grace period for the revised edition of Form I-485 because this revision is necessary for USCIS to apply the final rule. Please note that USCIS will:

Reject the 01/20/25 and 09/04/26 edition of Form I-485 if it is postmarked or electronically submitted on or after Sept. 18, 2026; and

Only accept the 09/18/26 edition of Form I-485 if it is postmarked or electronically submitted on or after Sept. 18, 2026.

ALERT: On Oct. 7, 2026, we changed the filing location for Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status. If you are filing Form I-485 by mail, see our Direct Filing Addresses for Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, page to determine where to file your form based on your reason for filing. We will provide a 30-day grace period and accept forms postmarked on or before Nov. 9, 2026, that are sent to any prior filing location.

ALERT: We now offer online filing of Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, for certain applicants and their representatives.

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When you file Form I-485, you must also submit Form I-693, Report of Immigration Medical Examination and Vaccination Record. A civil surgeon is responsible for providing you with a completed Form I-693 that is signed and placed in a sealed envelope. If you file Form I-485 online, you must open the sealed envelope from the civil surgeon and upload the completed Form I-693 with your application package. You must keep the original Form I-693 and the envelope from the civil surgeon until we make a final decision on your Form I-485. We may review the original Form I-693 and envelope during an interview or ask you to submit the original Form I-693 and envelope as evidence to support your application.

Alert: We now offer online filing of Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, for certain applicants and their representatives.

Filing Form I-485 concurrently with an underlying visa petition (Form I-140 or Form I-130)

Attorneys or accredited representatives can file Form I-485 concurrently with an underlying visa petition filed for you by a petitioner.

Individuals who are filing a Form I-140 as a self-petitioner can also concurrently file Form I-140 and Form I-485.

If an attorney or accredited representative is not submitting a filing on your behalf, and you are not a Form I-140 self-petitioner, you may not concurrently file Form I-485 with an underlying visa petition. If you are ineligible to concurrently file Form I-485 with a visa petition, the Form I-130 or Form I-140 petitioner must first submit their petition through their USCIS online account. After the visa petitioner receives their visa petition acceptance notice, and you meet all eligibility criteria to file Form I-485, you may submit your Form I-485 application through your USCIS online account.

Please do not submit this checklist with your Form I-485. It is an optional tool to use as you prepare your form but does not replace statutory, regulatory, and form instruction requirements. We recommend that you review these requirements before completing and submitting your form. Do not send original documents unless specifically requested in the form instructions or applicable regulations. You may view the form instructions at uscis.gov/i-485.

The checklist is an optional tool to use as you prepare your form. It does not replace statutory, regulatory, and form instruction requirements. Submitting all required initial evidence and supporting documentation at the same time you file Form I-485 may eliminate the need for us to issue a Request for Evidence to get additional documentation and evidence. This may also help avoid adjudication delays if we decide that you do not need to be interviewed.

Checklist for Immediate Relatives

Did you provide the following?

Two passport-style photographs;

A copy of your government-issued identity document with photograph;

A copy of your birth certificate (if your birth certificate s unavailable or does not exist, submit other acceptable evidence of birth such as church, school, or medical records, and proof of unavailability or nonexistence);

Inspection and admission, or inspection and parole documentation (unless applying for adjustment under section 245(i) of the Immigration and Nationality Act [INA]) (for more information and examples, please see the form instructions);

Documentation of immigrant category, such as a copy of the approval or receipt notice (Form I-797, Notice of Action), for the Form I-130 filed on your behalf (unless you are filing your Form I-485 with the Form I-130 filed on your behalf);

Form I-693, Report of Immigration Medical Examination and Vaccination Record, or a partial Form I-693 (if applicable). If you are required to submit a Form I-693 or a partial Form I-693, you must submit it with your Form I-485. Otherwise, your Form I-485 may be rejected. For more information, please see the Form I-693 Instructions.);

Form I-864, Affidavit of Support Under Section 213A of the INA, or Form I-864EZ, Affidavit of Support Under Section 213A of the INA (if required);

Certified police and court records of all criminal charges, arrests, or convictions regardless of final disposition (if applicable);

Form I-601, Application for Waiver of Grounds of Inadmissibility (if applicable);

Form I-212, Application for Permission to Reapply for Admission into the United States After Deportation or Removal (if applicable);

Documentation of past or present J-1 and J-2 nonimmigrant status (if applicable), including proof of compliance with or a waiver of the 2-year foreign residence requirement under INA 212(e) (for more information, see Form I-612, Application for Waiver of the Foreign Residence Requirement (under Section 212(e) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, as Amended);

Form I-508, Waiver of Diplomatic Rights, Privileges, Exemptions, and Immunities (If you currently hold A, G, or E nonimmigrant status and you enjoy certain diplomatic privileges and immunities as a result of your occupational status);

Form I-566, Interagency Record of Request – A, G, or NATO Dependent Employment Authorization or Change/Adjustment to/from A, G, or NATO Status (only if you have A, G, or NATO nonimmigrant status); and

Form I-485 Supplement A, Adjustment of Status Under Section 245(i) (Supplement A) (if applicable).

If you entered the United States as the fiancé(e) of a U.S. citizen and you are adjusting status as K nonimmigrant , you must submit evidence that you entered into a bona fide marriage with your U.S. citizen petitioner within 90 days after your admission to the United States as a K nonimmigrant.

Family Members: If you are the spouse or child of a U.S. citizen’s immediate relative, you must independently qualify for adjustment of status and file your own application. You cannot qualify for adjustment of status as the derivative beneficiary based on the immediate relative’s Form I-485.

Checklist of Required Initial Evidence for Employment-Based Form I-485 Applicants

Did you provide the following?

Two passport-style photographs;

A copy of a government-issued identity document with photograph;

A copy of your birth certificate (if your birth certificate is unavailable or does not exist, provide other acceptable evidence of birth such as church, school, or medical records, and proof of unavailability or nonexistence, if applicable);

Inspection and admission, or inspection and parole documentation (unless applying for adjustment under INA 245(i)) (for more information or examples, please refer to the form instructions);

Documentation of immigrant category, such as a copy of the approval or receipt notice (Form I-797, Notice of Action), for the immigrant petition (unless you are filing your Form I-485 with the petition, such as Form I-140);

Evidence you continuously maintained a lawful status since arriving in the United States (or that you are exempt under 245(k) from the INA 245(c)(2), (7) and (8) bars);

Confirmation of job offer or request for portability (on Form I-485 Supplement J, Confirmation of Valid Job Offer or Request for Job Portability Under INA Section 204(j), if applicable);

A signed statement confirming you intend to work in the occupational field specified in the Form I-140 if you are a self-petitioner;

Form I-693, Report of Immigration Medical Examination and Vaccination Record, or a partial Form I-693 (if applicable). If you are required to submit a Form I-693 or a partial Form I-693, you must submit it with your Form I-485. Otherwise, your Form I-485 may be rejected. For more information, please see the Form I-693 Instructions.);

Form I-864, Affidavit of Support Under Section 213A of the INA or Form I-864EZ, Affidavit of Support Under Section 213A of the INA (if required);

Certified police and court records of all criminal charges, arrests, or convictions regardless of final disposition (if applicable);

Form I-601, Application for Waiver of Grounds of Inadmissibility (if applicable);

Form I-212, Application for Permission to Reapply for Admission into the United States After Deportation or Removal (if applicable);

Documentation of past or present J-1 and J-2 nonimmigrant status (if applicable), including proof of compliance with or a waiver of the 2-year foreign residence requirement under INA 212(e) (for more information, see Form I-612, Application for Waiver of the Foreign Residence Requirement (under Section 212(e) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, as Amended);

Form I-508, Waiver of Diplomatic Rights, Privileges, Exemptions, and Immunities;

Form I-566, Interagency Record of Request – A, G, or NATO Dependent Employment Authorization or Change/Adjustment to/from A, G, or NATO Status (only if you have A, G, or NATO nonimmigrant status); and

Form I-485 Supplement A, Adjustment of Status Under Section 245(i) (if applicable).

You must submit all evidence requested in these Instructions with your application. If you fail to submit required evidence, USCIS may reject or deny your application in accordance with 8 CFR 103.2(b)(1) and these Instructions. If you are unable to submit the required primary evidence (for example, a birth certificate or marriage certificate), you may provide secondary evidence (for example, church or school records) instead if you can explain why the primary evidence is unavailable. If you cannot submit secondary evidence, you may submit two or more affidavits, sworn to or affirmed by individuals who are not parties to the immigration benefit sought and who have direct personal knowledge of the event and circumstances. You must also explain why primary and secondary evidence are unavailable in accordance with 8 CFR 103.2(b)(2).

(22) Application to Adjust Status under Section 245(i) of the Act, Form I-485 Supplement A. Supplement A to Form I-485 for persons seeking to adjust status under the provisions of section 245(i) of the Act a sum of $1,000 be paid while the applicant's, “Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status,” is pending, unless payment of the additional sum is not required under section 245(i) of the Act, including:

(i) If applicant is unmarried and under 17 years of age: No fee.

(ii) If the applicant is the spouse or unmarried child under 21 years of age of a legalized alien and attaches a copy of a USCIS receipt or approval notice for a properly filed Form I-817, Application for Family Unity Benefits: No fee.

(21) Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, Form I-485. For filing an application for permanent resident status or creation of a record of lawful permanent residence:

(i) $1,440 for an applicant 14 years of age or older; or

(ii) $950 for an applicant under the age of 14 years who submits the application concurrently with the Form I-485 of a parent.

(iii) There is no fee for the following:

(A) An applicant who is in deportation, exclusion, or removal proceedings before an immigration judge, and the court waives the application fee.

(B) An applicant who served honorably on active duty in the U.S. armed forces who is filing under section 101(a)(27)(K) of the Act.

You can find the filing fee for Form I-485 by visiting our Fee Schedule page.

If you filed Form I-485 on or after July 30, 2007, and before April 1, 2024, and paid the required fee, you do not have to pay an additional fee to also file Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, or Form I-131, Application for Travel Documents, Parole Documents, and Arrival/Departure Records. However, if you file Form I-485 after April 1, 2024, you must pay additional fees to file Form I-765 and Form I-131, as listed on our Fee Schedule page. In either case, you may file these forms concurrently.

After you file your Form I-485, we will mail you a notice for your biometrics services appointment at a local Application Support Center (ASC) to provide your fingerprints, photograph, and/or signature. The notice will include the date, time, and location of the appointment. We use your biometrics to verify your identity and conduct required background and security checks.

USCIS officials will review your case to determine whether an interview is necessary. If we schedule you for an interview, you will be required to appear at a USCIS office to answer questions under oath or affirmation regarding your Form I‑485. We will send you a notice with the date, time, and location of the interview.

If we deny your application, the decision notice will tell you the reason(s) why your application is denied and whether you may appeal the decision. Generally, you cannot appeal the decision to deny an adjustment of status application. Even if you cannot appeal the denial, you may still be eligible to file a motion to reopen or reconsider. Both appeals and motions are filed on Form I-290B, Notice of Appeal or Motion. For more information, see our Questions and Answers: Appeals and Motions page.

We display case processing times for select forms and locations to let you know how long it generally takes to process benefit requests and when you can contact us with questions about your case. We update case processing times on the website monthly with the latest available data.