USCIS Form I-485: Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status

Edition date

01/20/25. You can find the edition date at the bottom of the page on the form and instructions.

Where to file

You have 2 options for filing your Form I-485 with USCIS: By mail (paper); or Online Filing Your Form I-485 by Mail Where you file your Form I-485 depends on your eligibility category. Go to our Direct Filing Addresses for Form I-485 page to see where you should file your application.

If you file at a USCIS lockbox, you may not receive an A-Number on your Form I-797, Notice of Action, due to a change in our business process. In these cases, we will send your A-Number in a second notice a few days after we accept your Form I-485.

Filing Your Form I-485 Online First create a USCIS online account, or log in if you already have an account. To learn more, visit our How to Create a USCIS Online Account page.

Representatives can concurrently file Form I-485 online with an underlying Form I-140 or Form I-130. Individuals who are filing a Form I-140 as a self-petitioner can concurrently file Form I-140 and Form I-485.

If you are filing without a representative and you are not a self-petitioner on Form I-140, you may not concurrently file Form I-485 with an underlying visa petition (I-130 or I-140).

When to file

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.

Filing fee

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

Initial evidence

Save time by submitting all required initial evidence and supporting documentation at the same time you file Form I-485. View the checklist of required initial evidence.

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. If you are required to submit Form I-693, Report of Immigration Medical Examination and Vaccination Record, or a partial Form I-693 (such as the Vaccination Record), you must submit it with your Form I-485.

Otherwise, we may reject your Form I-485. If we reject an application package and return the application package with the Form I-693 envelope opened and you wish to file a new application package with the original opened Form I-693, you may do so.

Special instructions

E-Notification: If you want to receive an e-mail or text message or both that we have accepted your form at a USCIS lockbox, complete Form G-1145, E-Notification of Application/Petition Acceptance, and clip it to the first page of your form. Afghan SIV Effective July 20, 2022, we transitioned the responsibility to adjudicate Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) petitions filed by Afghans to the U.S.

Department of State (DOS). Afghans who start the SIV application process on or after July 20, 2022, may seek classification as a special immigrant with DOS by filing Form DS-157 with the application for Chief of Mission approval.

For more information, see instructions on the DOS website on Special Immigrant Visas for Afghans – Who Were Employed by/on Behalf of the U.S. Government.

When filing Form I-485, you must supply evidence of an approved Form I-360, Petition for Amerasian, Widow(er), or Special Immigrant, or a copy of the COM approval letter that also indicates approval of your Form DS-157. INA 245(i) If you are seeking to adjust status under the provisions of section 245(i) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, see Supplement A for additional instructions.