What is Form I-485?
USCIS Form I-485, known as the Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, is the form certain eligible noncitizens use to apply for a green card from within the United States. It is for people who are already in the U.S. and qualify to “adjust status” to lawful permanent resident, instead of completing immigrant visa processing at a U.S. consulate abroad. When approved, Form I-485 grants lawful permanent resident status, allowing the person to live and work in the U.S. indefinitely, as long as that status is properly maintained.
Form I-485 and green card application: What's the difference?
Form I-485, formally the Application to Adjust Status, is the definitive document for requesting lawful permanent residence, commonly referred to as the "green card application form." The critical distinction is the adjudication path: Adjustment of Status (Form I-485) is the exclusive process for eligible foreign nationals filing from within the United States, while those applying from abroad must proceed through Consular Processing.
What is Form I-485 used for?
Form I-485 is used by certain noncitizens in the U.S. to apply for lawful permanent resident status by registering for permanent residence or adjusting their current status.
How to fill out Form I-485?
Part 1. Information About You
- Enter your legal name, all previous names, current address, A-Number, date and place of birth, country of citizenship, passport details, I-94 number, current status, 5-year address history, and Social Security information.
Part 2. Application Type or Filing Category
- Select principal or derivative applicant and choose your immigration category (family-based, employment-based, refugee, etc.). Include petition receipt numbers if applicable.
Part 3. Request for Exemption for Intending Immigrant's Affidavit of Support Under Section 213A of the INA
- Check one box to indicate if you qualify for an exemption from the Affidavit of Support or if you are required to submit one.
Part 4. Additional Information About You
- Provide employment and educational history for the last 5 years, state if you previously applied for permanent residence, and indicate if your status was ever rescinded.
Part 5. Information About Your Parents
- Enter your parents' legal names, birth names (if different), and countries of birth.
Part 6. Information About Your Marital History
- State your current marital status, provide current spouse information (name, date of birth, address, marriage date/place), list prior spouses with divorce dates, and note if spouse is in the armed forces.
Part 7. Information About Your Children
- State total number of living children and list each child's name, date of birth, country of birth, A-Number (if any), and relationship to you.
Part 8. Biographic Information
- Select ethnicity and race, and enter height, weight, eye color, and hair color.
Part 9. General Eligibility and Inadmissibility Grounds
- Answer yes/no questions about organization memberships, criminal history, unlawful status, removal proceedings, and security issues. Explain any "Yes" answers in Part 14.
Part 10. Applicant's Contact Information, Certification, and Signature
- Enter phone numbers and email, certify information is true, sign and date.
Part 11. Interpreter's Contact Information, Certification, and Signature
- If applicable, interpreter completes their name, contact information, language, and signs.
Part 12. Contact Information, Certification, and Signature of the Person Preparing this Application, if Other Than the Applicant
- If an attorney or preparer completed the form, they fill in contact details and sign.
Part 13. Signature at Interview
- Leave blank; sign at your USCIS interview.
Part 14. Additional Information
- Continue or explain answers from earlier parts, clearly labeling each with page, part, and item numbers.
Who is required to fill out Form I-485?
USCIS I-485 Form is used by noncitizens or foreign nationals who are already in the United States and meet the requirements to transition to lawful permanent resident status. Not all noncitizens can file; eligibility is contingent upon having an approved immigrant petition, the availability of a visa number, or qualification under specific categories like refugee, asylee, diversity visa, or the Cuban Adjustment Act.
When is Form I-485 not required?
Form I-485 is not used by individuals applying for an immigrant visa at a U.S. consulate abroad (who use consular processing instead) or by those who are not seeking permanent residence. Diplomats and high-ranking officials in the U.S. (A and G visas) generally cannot obtain a green card unless they waive their diplomatic immunities (Form I-508) and file Form I-485 or a similar application if eligible.
When is Form I-485 due?
The deadline to file Form I-485 depends on your category. Immediate relatives of U.S. citizens usually have a visa number available right away, so they can file at any time — often at the same time as their petition. Other applicants must wait until a visa number becomes available for their category and priority date, as listed in the Department of State’s Visa Bulletin. You should check the Visa Bulletin each month to confirm whether your priority date is current and you’re allowed to file.
How to get a blank Form I-485?
To get an USCIS-issued blank Form I-485, simply visit our platform. We have the template ready in our editor for you to fill out and download. Remember, our website helps you create the form, but you'll need to submit it according to official requirements.
How to sign Form I-485?
To sign Form I-485, you can print the document and sign it by hand. This method uses a wet signature, which is widely accepted.
PDF Guru offers a way to fill out the form but does not support creating digital signatures, only simple electronic ones. Always check the latest guidelines.
Where to file Form I-485?
You can submit Form I-485 by mail to the specific USCIS Lockbox facility assigned to your eligibility category and state of residence. You must check the 'Direct Filing Addresses for Form I-485' page on the USCIS website to find the correct address. Currently, only a limited number of specific categories are eligible to file Form I-485 online.
Forms related to I-485
Form I-130 / I-140 (The Petition): These are the foundation of your green card case. You need an approved I-130 (family) or I-140 (employment) to prove you are eligible for the green card that Form I-485 asks for.
Form I-765 (Work Permission): Since Form I-485 takes months to process, this related form gives you a temporary work permit (EAD) so you can earn a living while you wait.
Form I-131 (Travel Permission): This form relates to your ability to leave the U.S. filing it gets you "advance parole," preventing your I-485 from being cancelled if you travel abroad.
Form I-864 (Financial Support): This form supports your I-485 by proving you have the required financial backing from your petitioner, ensuring you meet the "public charge" requirement.
Form I-693 (Health Record): This medical report from a Civil Surgeon verifies public health eligibility. Must be submitted concurrently with the I-485 to avoid delays. Failure to include it may lead to denial.
