I-485 Adjustment of Status: requirements, documents and process
How to apply for a green card from inside the United States using Form I-485, including eligibility, documents, fees and processing time.
- Form I-485 is how you apply for a green card from inside the United States.
- You generally need an approved or concurrently filed immigrant petition and an available visa number.
- You must be physically present in the US and admissible to qualify.
- Filing I-485 with I-765 and I-131 lets you work and travel while it is pending.
What Form I-485 is
Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, is how someone already in the United States applies to become a lawful permanent resident without leaving the country.
If approved, you receive a green card. The alternative is consular processing, where you complete the process at a US embassy or consulate abroad.
Who can file
You must be physically present in the United States and have been lawfully admitted or paroled. You also need an approved immigrant petition (for example I-130 for family or I-140 for employment), or one filed at the same time as your I-485.
A visa number must be immediately available for your category — for capped categories this depends on your priority date in the monthly Visa Bulletin. You must also be admissible, meaning no bars that require a waiver.
Documents you need
The core evidence includes Form I-485, proof of your last lawful entry (usually Form I-94), a copy of your birth certificate, passport-style photos, and a sealed medical exam (Form I-693) completed by a USCIS-approved civil surgeon.
Family-based cases also need Form I-864 (Affidavit of Support), and employment-based cases need the underlying I-140 approval or filing. Check the current USCIS checklist for your category, as requirements vary.
Fees
The I-485 filing fee is set by USCIS and changed in April 2024. Use the VisaWyse fee calculator to see the current amount for your route, including dependants.
When you file I-485, you can usually file I-765 (work permit) and I-131 (travel document) at no additional fee while the green card is pending.
Processing time
Adjustment of status is processed by USCIS field offices, so timelines vary significantly by location and case type. Check the VisaWyse processing-time page for the current I-485 estimate.
You may be called for a biometrics appointment and, in many family cases, an interview before a decision.
After you file
Keep your address current with USCIS and attend any biometrics or interview appointment. If you filed I-765 and I-131, you can work and travel once those are approved while your I-485 is pending.
Avoid leaving the United States without an approved travel document, because travel while an application is pending can be treated as abandonment.