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Green Card Application (I-485)
Apply for a green card from inside the U.S. by adjusting status on Form I-485: confirm eligibility, complete the medical exam, file with the correct USCIS fees, attend biometrics and the interview, and receive your permanent resident card.
- United States
- ~31 days
- 10 steps
- 5 documents
Curated by Raaya · Last reviewed Oct 2026
Steps
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Confirm your category and that you can file
2 daysAdjustment of status lets you apply for a green card without leaving the U.S. You need a basis such as an approved or concurrently filed family petition (Form I-130), an employment petition (Form I-140), a diversity visa selection, or refugee or asylee status, and you generally must have been inspected and admitted or paroled.
Immediate relatives of U.S. citizens (spouses, unmarried children under 21, and parents of citizens 21 or older) can file Form I-485 together with Form I-130. Other family and employment categories must wait until their priority date is current; each month USCIS says whether to use the Dates for Filing or Final Action Dates chart in the State Department Visa Bulletin.
Tip: Status violations, unauthorized work, prior removals or certain arrests can bar adjustment; if any apply to you, speak to an immigration attorney or accredited representative before filing.
- Online
- uscis.gov
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Gather civil documents and evidence
10 daysCollect the evidence USCIS requires for your category, following the Form I-485 instructions and checklist.
Usually needed: two passport-style photos; a copy of your birth certificate; passport biographic page and visa; your I-94 arrival record (print it from the CBP website); evidence of lawful entry and status; the underlying petition or its approval notice (I-797); marriage certificate and divorce decrees if applicable; and certified court records for any arrests or convictions. Employment-based applicants usually include a job offer letter or Supplement J.
Any document not in English needs a full English translation with the translator's signed certification of competence and accuracy.
Tip: If a birth certificate is unavailable, check the State Department reciprocity page for your country to see which substitute documents are accepted.
Passport, U.S. visa and I-94 arrival recordBirth certificate with certified English translationMarriage certificate and any divorce decrees (if applicable)Job offer or employment verification letter (employment-based cases) -
Complete the immigration medical exam
7 daysMost adjustment applicants must submit Form I-693, Report of Immigration Medical Examination and Vaccination Record, completed by a USCIS-designated civil surgeon. It must be submitted together with Form I-485; USCIS may reject the I-485 if a required I-693 is missing.
Find a civil surgeon with the USCIS locator. USCIS charges no fee for Form I-693, but the doctor sets the exam fee, which varies widely, and vaccines and tests may cost extra.
The civil surgeon must sign the form no more than 60 days before you file.
Tip: Do not open the sealed envelope; USCIS will not accept an I-693 that has been opened or altered.
- Where
- USCIS-designated civil surgeon · Bring government photo ID, your vaccination records and any medical records for chronic conditions. Expect a physical exam, tuberculosis and blood tests, and vaccinations if needed. The civil surgeon gives you Form I-693 in a sealed envelope or submits it electronically.
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Complete Form I-485 and supporting forms
5 daysUse the current edition of each form from uscis.gov; USCIS rejects outdated editions. Answer every question; write N/A or None where a question does not apply, and sign in ink if filing on paper.
Family-based applicants generally need a sponsor to file Form I-864, Affidavit of Support, showing income of at least 125% of the federal poverty guidelines, with the sponsor's latest tax return or transcript. A joint sponsor can be added if income is too low.
You may also file Form I-765 for a work permit and Form I-131 for advance parole while the I-485 is pending.
Tip: Do not leave the U.S. while your I-485 is pending without advance parole, unless you hold certain H or L status; departing can abandon the application.
- Form I-485 completed and signed (current edition)
- Form I-130 or I-140 filed together, or its receipt or approval notice
- Form I-864 Affidavit of Support with sponsor tax records (most family cases)
- Sealed Form I-693 from the civil surgeon
- Optional Form I-765 (work permit) and Form I-131 (advance parole)
- Two passport-style photos and copies of passport, visa and I-94
- Form G-1145 for e-mail or text notice when the case is accepted
Passport, U.S. visa and I-94 arrival recordBirth certificate with certified English translationMarriage certificate and any divorce decrees (if applicable)Job offer or employment verification letter (employment-based cases)Form I-864 Affidavit of Support with sponsor tax records -
Pay the USCIS filing fees
1 dayFees are set by the USCIS fee schedule (Form G-1055). As of the October 1, 2026 edition, Form I-485 costs $1,440 on paper or $1,390 online, or $950 paper / $900 online for a child under 14 filing with a parent. There is no separate biometrics fee. If filed with a pending I-485, Form I-765 is $260 and Form I-131 advance parole is $630 on paper ($580 online). Form I-130 is $675 on paper or $625 online, and USCIS charges no fee for Forms I-864 or I-693.
Pay each form separately so one rejected payment does not reject the whole package. Paper filings accept check, money order or card using Form G-1450.
Fee waivers on Form I-912 are available only for certain categories.
Tip: Check the fee calculator on uscis.gov on the day you file; packages with a wrong fee are rejected and returned.
- Fee
- $1,440 · Form I-485 paper filing fee (online $1,390; applicants under 14 filing with a parent $950 paper / $900 online); biometr…
- Fee
- $260 · Optional Form I-765 work permit fee while I-485 is pending
- Fee
- $630 · Optional Form I-131 advance parole fee while I-485 is pending (online $580)
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File the I-485 package and get your receipt
2 daysUSCIS accepts online filing of Form I-485 for certain applicants; others must mail a paper package to the lockbox address listed on the Direct Filing Addresses page for Form I-485, which depends on your category and where you live.
Within a few weeks of acceptance you receive Form I-797C receipt notices, one per form, each with a receipt number. Use it to follow your case in your USCIS online account and compare with published processing times for your field office.
If USCIS needs more evidence it sends a Request for Evidence with a firm deadline. Report any change of address within 10 days using your online account or Form AR-11.
Tip: Mail with tracking and keep a complete copy of everything you sent, including the check or card authorization; you will need it at the interview.
- Online
- uscis.gov
Form I-864 Affidavit of Support with sponsor tax records -
Attend your biometrics appointment
1 dayA few weeks after filing, USCIS mails a biometrics appointment notice for a local Application Support Center. Fingerprints, a photo and your signature are taken for background checks and for your card.
Bring the notice and a valid government photo ID. If you cannot attend, request a new date before the appointment through your online account or by following the instructions on the notice; missing it without rescheduling can lead to denial.
USCIS sometimes reuses biometrics already on file, in which case you may not receive a notice.
Tip: Arrive on time but not too early; many centers only admit people shortly before their scheduled slot.
- Where
- USCIS Application Support Center (ASC) · Bring the appointment notice (Form I-797C) and a valid photo ID such as a passport. USCIS will take fingerprints, a photo and your signature; the visit is usually short.
Passport, U.S. visa and I-94 arrival record -
Track your case and answer any RFE
1 dayAfter biometrics, check your case status regularly in your USCIS online account and compare with the processing times posted for your form and office. Processing time varies widely by category and location.
If you filed Forms I-765 and I-131, you may receive a combined work and travel card before the green card decision. Renew it on time if the case takes longer than its validity.
Respond to any Request for Evidence by its deadline, sending exactly what is asked with the RFE notice on top. Keep your sponsor's information current, as an updated I-864 may be requested.
Tip: If your case is outside normal processing times, you can submit a case inquiry through the USCIS website before contacting a congressional office.
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Attend your green card interview
1 dayUSCIS may schedule an interview at your local field office; it can also waive the interview in some cases. The officer reviews your application under oath and checks original documents.
Bring the interview notice, your passport and any travel documents, government photo ID, all original civil documents, your work or travel card, and a copy of your full filing. Marriage-based applicants attend with their spouse and should bring evidence of the shared life such as a joint lease or mortgage, bank statements, insurance and photos. Bring an interpreter if you need one, unless the notice says otherwise.
At the end you may be approved, asked for more evidence, or told a decision will be mailed.
Tip: Review your own forms before the interview; inconsistent answers about dates, addresses or employment are a common reason for delays.
Passport, U.S. visa and I-94 arrival recordBirth certificate with certified English translationMarriage certificate and any divorce decrees (if applicable) -
Receive and check your green card
1 dayAfter approval, USCIS mails your Permanent Resident Card to the address on file, usually within a few weeks. Check every detail on the card.
If your status is based on a marriage of less than two years at approval, you receive a two-year conditional card and must file Form I-751 jointly with your spouse during the 90 days before it expires.
Permanent residents aged 18 and older must carry their card. Long trips abroad can lead to questions about abandonment of residence.
Tip: Note the date you can apply for citizenship, usually five years after becoming a resident or three years if married to and living with a U.S. citizen.
- Confirm the card arrived and check name, date of birth and dates
- Request correction on Form I-90 if USCIS made an error
- Update your Social Security record so you can work without restriction
- Calendar the card expiration and the I-751 window if it is a two-year card
- Report every change of address within 10 days with Form AR-11
- Keep a copy of the card and the approval notice in a safe place
Documents you'll need
| Passport, U.S. visa and I-94 arrival record | Copies prove identity and lawful entry. Print your latest I-94 from the CBP website, and bring the original passport to biometrics and the interview. |
|---|---|
| Birth certificate with certified English translation | Must be a long-form copy from the civil authority where available. Non-English documents need a certified translation. |
| Marriage certificate and any divorce decrees (if applicable) | Required for spouse-based cases and when you claim through a marriage. Prior marriages must be shown as legally ended. |
| Job offer or employment verification letter (employment-based cases) | Employment-based applicants show the job offer is still valid, often with Supplement J signed by the employer. |
| Form I-864 Affidavit of Support with sponsor tax records | Most family-based applicants need a sponsor showing income of at least 125% of the poverty guidelines. No USCIS fee applies. |
Official sources
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General guidance, not legal, tax or immigration advice. Rules change; confirm with the official source before you act.