Family-based
Form I-485
Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status
The main form to apply for a green card (permanent residence) while physically present in the United States. Used for family-based, employment-based, and other categories.
- Filing fee
- $1,440
- Biometrics
- No fee
Who can file
- Beneficiaries of approved immigrant petitions with current priority dates
- Immediate relatives of U.S. citizens
- Asylees and refugees eligible for adjustment
- Certain special immigrant categories
Send with it
- Birth certificate with translation
- Passport and I-94
- Medical exam (I-693)
- Affidavit of Support (I-864)
- Tax returns and employment records
- Passport-style photos
- Police clearances and court records (if applicable)
Worth knowing
- File I-765 and I-131 with it to get work and travel authorization while waiting - since April 1, 2024 each has its own fee
- Do not travel outside the U.S. without advance parole after filing
- Complete the medical exam close to your filing date - results are valid for 2 years
- Respond to RFEs (Requests for Evidence) promptly
Common mistakes
- Filing before a visa number is available
- Missing the medical exam or submitting an expired one
- Incomplete Affidavit of Support
- Traveling without advance parole and abandoning the application
- Not disclosing prior immigration violations
Questions
- How much does Form I-485 cost?
- The USCIS filing fee for Form I-485 is $1,440.
- How long does Form I-485 take?
- Typically 8 to 30 months, depending on the office and the category. Check the current USCIS times for your office before you plan around it.
Often filed together with
Related forms
Fees are as published by USCIS. Confirm on USCIS's fee schedule (G-1055) before you pay - a wrong fee gets a filing rejected. General information, not legal advice.