Adjustment of status (Form I-485)
How the domestic USCIS green card process works when you are already in the United States. Covers who can file, what the I-485 package includes, how visa availability works, and what to expect at each stage.
What adjustment of status is
Adjustment of status (AOS) is the USCIS process for applying for a green card from inside the United States. Instead of traveling to a U.S. consulate abroad, you file Form I-485 with USCIS while remaining in the country.
Not everyone can file for adjustment of status. You must have an eligible immigrant basis, be admissible to the United States (or qualify for a waiver), and in most cases have an immigrant visa number available for your category.
Core I-485 package
The I-485 filing package typically includes:
- Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status
- Form I-693, Report of Medical Examination and Vaccination Record, or a required partial I-693, when required for your case
- Affidavit of support (Form I-864). When required for your category
- Identity and civil documents (birth certificate, passport)
- Biometric services fee
Category-specific forms and evidence are added on top of this core. If I-693 evidence is required, submit it with Form I-485; USCIS may reject Form I-485 if required I-693 evidence is missing. Always use the current USCIS I-485 instructions to confirm the complete filing package for your specific case.
Visa availability: when priority dates matter
For most family and employment preference categories, a visa number must be available before you can file or be approved. This is called "visa availability."
Immediate relatives of U.S. citizens, certain humanitarian categories, and some special immigrant categories are not subject to annual preference quotas. Others must wait for their priority date to become current.
The DOS Visa Bulletin and the USCIS monthly chart-use determination tell you whether you can file in a given month.
Biometrics, interview, and medical exam
After filing:
- USCIS schedules a biometrics appointment (fingerprints and photo) at an Application Support Center (ASC)
- Many family-based cases require an in-person USCIS interview; some employment-based and humanitarian cases may be interview-waived
- Required Form I-693 evidence, including any required partial I-693, must be included with Form I-485 under the current USCIS filing rule
After approval, USCIS mails your permanent resident card (green card) separately.
INA 245(i): legacy overlay
INA 245(i) allows certain individuals who entered without inspection or overstayed to adjust status if they pay a penalty fee and are the beneficiary of a qualifying petition filed on or before April 30, 2001. INA 245(i) is not an independent immigrant basis. It is an overlay that affects eligibility to file, not the underlying immigrant category.
Dynamic items: verify with official sources
These items must be checked against live official sources before filing:
- Which Visa Bulletin chart USCIS allows for I-485 filing this month (Final Action Dates vs. Dates for Filing). This changes monthly
- Current filing fees. USCIS fees can change
- Whether your category requires an interview. USCIS policies change
- Current I-485 form version and instructions
Do not rely on any single source for time-sensitive filing decisions.
What can vary by case, post, or month
These notes come from the research module behind this guide. Use them as flags; verify official instructions for your case before relying on general guidance.
Clearly required
- an eligible immigrant basis, admissibility/waiver treatment, and the correct I-485 package
Conditional
- concurrent filing, Supplement A under INA 245(i), category-specific exemptions, and interview expectations
Dynamic (may change)
- which Visa Bulletin chart USCIS allows for filing in the current month
Unresolved
- do not generalize a monthly chart-use decision beyond the live USCIS page
This page is an editorial guide built from official sources and project policy where needed.
This page includes time-sensitive or post-specific material. Recheck the live official source before relying on any current requirement.
Sources used on this page
- Adjustment of Status (USCIS)Official source
Accessed:
Exact official USCIS URL preserved. Binary was not mirrored locally because the USCIS host returned access-blocked/403 behavior or was otherwise not downloadable in this environment.
Why this source is here: USCIS adjustment-of-status overview. USCIS overview of the domestic adjustment of status process. Primary source for AOS guidance.
- Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status (USCIS)Official source
Accessed:
Exact official USCIS URL preserved. Binary was not mirrored locally because the USCIS host returned access-blocked/403 behavior or was otherwise not downloadable in this environment.
Why this source is here: Form landing page for the primary AOS form. Canonical USCIS form page for Form I-485. Includes current form version, instructions, and fee.
- Visa Availability and Priority Dates (USCIS)Official sourceChanges over time
Why this source is here: USCIS explanation of priority dates, preference categories, and monthly Visa Bulletin use. Includes links to current chart-use determination.
- When to File Using Visa Availability Charts (USCIS)Official sourceChanges over timeTime-sensitive source
Why this source is here: USCIS monthly determination of which Visa Bulletin chart (Final Action or Dates for Filing) may be used for I-485 filing. Dynamic — updated monthly.