Fill Out USCIS Form I-485 Online

What is Form I-485 used for

Form I-485 asks USCIS to grant lawful permanent resident status to someone who is already physically present in the United States. Approval results in a Permanent Resident Card, commonly called a green card.

Most applicants need an underlying basis, such as an approved or concurrently filed Form I-130 family petition or an employment-based petition, and in general an immigrant visa must be immediately available in the applicant's category before the I-485 can be filed. Immediate relatives of U.S. citizens always have a visa available; other categories should check the Visa Bulletin and the USCIS adjustment of status filing charts.

Who files Form I-485

The intending immigrant files Form I-485 on their own behalf. Common filing situations include:

• Spouses, parents, and children of U.S. citizens filing as immediate relatives, often concurrently with Form I-130.
• Family preference beneficiaries whose priority date is current under the Visa Bulletin.
• Employment-based applicants with an approved or pending immigrant petition and a current priority date.
• Asylees and refugees applying one year after their grant of asylum or admission as a refugee.
• Other categories described in the form instructions, each with its own eligibility rules and evidence list.

How to fill out Form I-485

Set aside real time for this form. It covers your full biographic history, immigration history, and a long series of eligibility and admissibility questions.

Adjustment of status is a high-stakes filing, and answers to the admissibility questions can have serious consequences. If anything in your history is uncertain, talk to an immigration attorney or DOJ-accredited representative before you file.

• Part 1 collects your personal information, including all other names used, birth details, and your immigration history such as your most recent entry and I-94 record.
• Part 2 identifies your application type or filing category, which must match the immigrant category on your underlying petition.
• Middle parts cover your address and employment history, your parents, your marital history, and information about your children.
• A lengthy series of yes or no questions covers criminal history, immigration violations, security grounds, and other admissibility topics. Answer truthfully and explain any yes answers as the instructions direct.
• The final parts include your signature, interpreter and preparer certifications, and space for additional information.

Filing tips

Most Form I-485 applications are filed by mail; USCIS currently offers online filing only for certain stand-alone employment-based applications. The current paper edition is dated 01/20/25, so confirm the edition date at the bottom of every page before mailing.

• Submit Form I-693, the medical examination report, with your I-485 when it is required. USCIS may reject an application filed without it.
• Send all required initial evidence in one complete package to reduce the chance of a Request for Evidence and interview-related delays.
• Sign the form. USCIS rejects any unsigned application, and it also rejects filings with the wrong fee, so verify the amount with the USCIS fee calculator first.
• Use black ink or typed answers, and clip Form G-1145 to the front of the package if you want an electronic acceptance notice from the lockbox.