Physical Presence on December 21, 2000 Evidence

What this is

Documentary evidence establishing physical presence in the United States on December 21, 2000, required when the qualifying grandfathering filing was made on or after January 14, 1998. May include records such as tax filings, pay stubs, school or medical records, government documents, or other dated official records.

Case-specific: Whether this document matters depends on category, facts, or relationship to the case.

Who usually needs it

Applicants in older statutory routes such as 245(i), registry, or NACARA, where eligibility turns on historic filings, entry dates, residence, or cohort rules.

When it usually appears

Usually while testing whether the legacy-law route is even available, and later while assembling the supporting filing packet.

What changes by process, path, or post

These records are date- and statute-sensitive. The key issue is often proving the old legal hook, not just producing a current identity or family record.

Common format or evidence traps

• Using modern case facts to fill gaps in a route that depends on older statutory dates or filings.
• Assuming a family relationship alone proves access to a legacy-law route.

Related pages

• Pathway explorerUse pathway families if you still need the legal route.
• Adjustment of status guideSee the USCIS route inside the United States.
• Waivers and inadmissibility guideSee high-risk waiver and inadmissibility concepts.

Related glossary terms

Pathway family · Inadmissibility

Examples from current exact-support flows

Coverage posture: Current public exact-support flows attach only one direct example to this document. Treat that example as narrow context, not as proof that the document only matters in that one scenario.

• Needed in some cases

  If the qualifying grandfathering petition or labor certification was filed on or after January 14, 1998, you must also show physical presence in the United States on December 21, 2000. Provide dated documentary evidence such as tax records, pay stubs, school records, medical records, lease or utility records, or other government-issued documents. This requirement applies only to the later grandfathering window. If your qualifying filing predates January 14, 1998, this document is not required. (Sources: uscis_245i_page, uscis_i485_supplement_a_instructions, ecfr_8_cfr_245_10)

  Shown when: scope.green_card_path: other · scope.processing_context: adjustment-of-status · other.subcategory: 245i-overlay