Form I-485 (Adjustment of Status)

What is Form I-485?

Form I-485 is the application that converts an eligible noncitizen, who is already physically present in the United States, into a lawful permanent resident (LPR). The process is commonly called "adjustment of status," or AOS. The alternative for beneficiaries who are outside the U.S. is consular processing, in which the National Visa Center forwards the case to a U.S. embassy abroad. The current form, instructions, and fee are published at uscis.gov/i-485.

Who can file Form I-485?

You generally need four things to be eligible:

• Physical presence in the United States. Adjustment is a within-the-country process.
• An approved or concurrently filed immigrant petition. Most commonly Form I-130 (family-based), Form I-140 (employment-based), or Form I-360 (special immigrant categories, such as VAWA self-petitioners).
• An available immigrant visa number. Immediate Relatives of U.S. citizens always have a visa available. Preference categories must wait until the priority date is current under the monthly Visa Bulletin.
• Admissibility. You must not be barred by criminal, fraud, public charge, unlawful presence, or other grounds of inadmissibility, or you must qualify for a waiver.

In addition, most applicants must have entered the U.S. lawfully (with inspection and admission or parole) and maintained status, with important exceptions for Immediate Relatives, VAWA self-petitioners, asylees, and limited grandfathering under INA 245(i).

Concurrent filing

"Concurrent filing" means submitting Form I-485 in the same package as the underlying immigrant petition. It is available when a visa number is immediately available, which always includes Immediate Relatives (spouse, parent, or unmarried minor child of a U.S. citizen) and any preference category whose priority date is current. Concurrent filing shortens the overall timeline and lets the applicant request an Employment Authorization Document and advance parole simultaneously by adding Forms I-765 and I-131 to the packet.

Filing fee (2026)

As of 2026, the standard Form I-485 filing fee is $1,440 for applicants 14 and older, which combines the application fee and the biometric services fee into a single payment. Different amounts apply to children under 14 and to applicants filing under certain categories (such as refugees and asylees). Because USCIS occasionally adjusts fees, always verify the current amount at uscis.gov/i-485 and confirm whether you need to file additional fees for Form I-765 or Form I-131.

Required supporting documents

A complete I-485 packet contains the form itself plus a substantial set of supporting documents. Missing items are the leading cause of Requests for Evidence. Most applicants will need:

• Form I-693, Report of Medical Examination and Vaccination Record, completed by a USCIS-designated civil surgeon, in a sealed envelope.
• Form I-864, Affidavit of Support, in family-based cases. A joint sponsor or household-member Form I-864A may be needed if the petitioner's income is below 125% of the federal poverty guidelines.
• Birth certificate with certified English translation if not already in English.
• Passport biographic page, copy of the most recent visa, and copy of Form I-94 arrival record.
• Two passport-style photos.
• Form I-765 (optional) for an Employment Authorization Document, category c9.
• Form I-131 (optional) for advance parole, allowing international travel while the I-485 is pending.
• Evidence of lawful entry, typically the I-94 record retrievable from i94.cbp.dhs.gov.
• Tax returns for the petitioner (and a joint sponsor, if used) for the most recent year.

Adjustment of Status vs. Consular Processing

Choosing between adjustment and consular processing is one of the most consequential decisions in a green card case. Adjustment (Form I-485) keeps the applicant in the U.S., includes interim work authorization and travel parole, and resolves at a USCIS field office. Consular processing routes the case through the National Visa Center to a U.S. embassy abroad, with a final interview by a consular officer. Each path has timing, cost, and admissibility trade-offs. For a full comparison, see our pillar section on Adjustment of Status vs. Consular Processing.

Processing timeline

Adjustment timelines depend heavily on category and field office. As of May 2026, family-based I-485s typically take roughly 10 to 14 months, employment-based I-485s can take 8 to 18 months, and asylum-based adjustments (filed one year after asylum grant) often run longer. The case usually involves a biometrics appointment at an Application Support Center within 6 to 10 weeks of filing, followed by a USCIS field office interview (when required) and a final decision. Check live numbers at egov.uscis.gov/processing-times.

Work authorization while pending

Filing Form I-485 does not by itself authorize work. To work legally while the case is pending, file Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, under category (c)(9). The resulting EAD is generally valid for two years (renewable) and serves as a List A document for Form I-9 purposes. Many applicants file I-765 together with the I-485 to avoid a gap in work authorization.

Advance parole and travel

Leaving the United States while the I-485 is pending, without authorization, is treated as abandonment and results in denial. To travel internationally, file Form I-131, Application for Travel Document, requesting advance parole. Approved advance parole allows reentry to continue the I-485 process. Even with advance parole, applicants with prior unlawful presence should consult counsel before traveling, because departure can trigger the 3 or 10-year bar in certain situations.

Common pitfalls

• Filing too early. Preference category applicants who file before their priority date is current will be rejected.
• Missing Form I-693. The medical exam must be completed by a civil surgeon and submitted in a sealed envelope.
• Inadequate Affidavit of Support. Income below the 125% poverty threshold without a joint sponsor leads to denial.
• International travel without advance parole. Abandons the application.
• Failure to maintain lawful status. Outside of Immediate Relative and a few other categories, status lapses can disqualify the applicant.
• Skipping required interviews or missing biometrics appointments without rescheduling.

Frequently asked questions

Go deeper

For the full context of Form I-485 inside the family-based green card process, visit our pillar overview: Family Petition & Adjustment of Status. To see how I-485 pairs with Form I-130, read the Form I-130 Step-by-Step Filing Guide. You can also return to the Immigration Glossary hub.