How to Adjust Immigration Status
To adjust your immigration status, you will need to file the I-485 Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status. For many temporary grants of residency, a change of status is required before permanent (green card) residency can be granted. There are many conditions why one would need to adjust immigration status, including those who filed temporary residency with Form I-140 and Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker, or K-1 Fiancé(e) status. Those who are petitioning permanent residency based on refugee, asylum, I-130 special immigrant, HRIFA, or entrepreneur also must file the I-485.
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Things You'll Need
- I-485 application
- $1,010.00 application and biometrics fee
- Supplemental documentation
Instructions
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Complete the general I-485 application form. There is one common form that must be filled out no matter what your case status. The form can be found and printed from the United State Citizenship and Immigration Services website located under the "forms" tab at the head of the homepage.
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Gather the supplemental documents. Each case has variant supplemental documents needed. That is to say, when filing an I-485 application for adjustment of work status you will need employment letters and records, while someone filing on the status of marriage will need a wedding certificate. Each case has very specific requirements. The requirements per case are available in the I-485 instructions packet that can be downloaded from the USCIS website, or requested in the mail.
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Send your application and all supporting documents to the appropriate USCIS filing center. As is the case with the supplemental documents needed, each specific case has a different filing center that the application must be sent to. There are more than 10 filing centers specific to region and case identity. The details for which center to file at can also be found at the USCIS website under the "forms" tab. If you do not file your application at the correct location it will be sent back to you.
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Pay the application filing fee. The fee for I-485 is $930.00. You will also be asked for a biometrics fee of $80.00 after your application has been approved. You can submit your biometrics fee along with your application fee for a total of $1,010.00. The fee must be submitted in either check or money order that draws from a bank within the United States. The money must be made payable to The Department of Homeland Security.
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Wait for approval. When your application has been approved, you will be asked to schedule and attend an interview and biometrics examination. At the interview, you will answer questions concerning your individual case. You must bring to the interview your passport and all visas and previous forms including your I-94 record of arrival and departure. After passing the interview, you will be granted your change of status.
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