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

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

Alert: On Sept. 11, 2020, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit issued a decision that allows DHS to resume implementing the Public Charge Ground of Inadmissibility final rule nationwide, including in New York, Connecticut and Vermont. The decision stays the July 29, 2020, injunction, issued during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, that prevented DHS from enforcing the public charge final rule during a national health emergency.

Therefore, we will apply the public charge final rule and related guidance in the USCIS Policy Manual, Volumes 2, 8 and 12, to all applications and petitions postmarked (or submitted electronically) on or after Feb. 24, 2020. If you send your application or petition by commercial courier (for example, UPS, FedEx, or DHL), we will use the date on the courier receipt as the postmark date.

For information about the relevant court decisions, please see the public charge injunction webpage.

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

Forms and Document Downloads

Form Details

Edition Date

10/15/19. We will publish a new edition of this form soon. In the meantime, you may continue using the 10/15/19 edition despite the expiration date. You can find the edition date at the bottom of the page on the form and instructions. The edition date for the Special Instructions for Liberian Refugee Immigration Fairness Applicants is 04/08/20.

Dates are listed in mm/dd/yy format.

Where to File

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. 

Go to our Form Filing Tips page for information on how to help ensure that we will accept your application.

Don’t forget to sign your form! We will reject any unsigned form.

If you file at a USCIS Lockbox, please be aware that due to a change in business process, you may not receive an A-Number on your I-797 Accept Notice. In these cases, we will send your A-Number in a second notice a few days after accepting your application.

Filing Fee
Varies.

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

Checklist of Required Initial Evidence (for informational purposes only)

View the checklist of required initial evidence.

Special Instructions

INA 245(i)

If you are seeking to adjust status under the provisions of section 245(i) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, refer to 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 the 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 the Special Instructions for Liberian Refugee Immigration Fairness Applicants (PDF, 254.5 KB). For more information about LRIF, see the 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.

Note: 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 are filing Form I-485 and pay the required fee (or already filed Form I-485 and paid the required fee on or after July 30, 2007), you do not have to pay an additional fee to also file a Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization and/or Form I-131, Application for Travel Document for advance parole. You may file 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, receipt as evidence that you filed a Form I-485.

If you filed your Form I-485 before July 30, 2007, you must pay the fees associated with Forms I-765 and/or I-131 when you file them.

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 the USCIS webpage about the Visa Bulletin to see if your priority date makes you eligible to apply. If your priority date makes you eligible to apply, then:

  • 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 the Visa Availability and Priority Dates page and the Adjustment of Status Filing Charts from the Visa Bulletin page.

Premium Processing

You may file Form I-485 and Form I-140 together at the USCIS Dallas Lockbox facility.

If you are requesting premium processing for Form I-140, you must also file Form I-907, Request for Premium Processing Service. Refer to the Direct Filing Addresses for Form I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker 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 the 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 to ensure your priority date is current before you file your application.

Related Links
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