Fill Form I-485 online
Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status
or choose your own copy:
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Form I-485 in short
Form I-485 is the application to become a lawful permanent resident (get a Green Card) while you are in the United States. It is usually filed after or together with a family or employment petition. Filing it does not by itself give you permanent residence.
| Issued by | U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) |
|---|---|
| Current version | Edition 09/18/26 (checked 2026-10-25) |
| Who fills it in | A person physically in the United States who is eligible for a Green Card in a category such as family-based, employment-based, refugee or asylee, VAWA, or another category listed in the instructions. |
| Who receives it | USCIS. |
| Where to send it | File by mail or online. The mailing address depends on your eligibility category; see the Direct Filing Addresses for Form I-485 page. USCIS changed filing locations on Oct. 7, 2026, with a grace period for forms postmarked on or before Nov. 9, 2026. Online filing is available for certain applicants: standalone filings where the I-130, I-140, or I-360 was already filed, and concurrent filings by attorneys, accredited representatives, or I-140 self-petitioners. |
| Deadline | In general you may file only when an immigrant visa number is immediately available in your category. Check the Visa Bulletin filing charts. Some categories allow filing together with the underlying petition (concurrent filing). |
| Fee | $1,440 paper filing, $1,390 online filing for the general category. $950 paper or $900 online for a child under 14 filing with a parent's I-485. Several categories are $0, such as refugees and certain VAWA, T, U, and Special Immigrant Juvenile applicants (Form G-1055 Fee Schedule, edition 10/16/26, checked 2026-10-25). Mailed filings are paid by card (Form G-1450) or bank ACH (Form G-1650) unless you qualify for the paper payment exemption (Form G-1651). |
| Official links | Official page · Official PDF · Official instructions |
What changed
USCIS published the 09/18/26 edition to align with the Public Charge Ground of Inadmissibility Final Rule. There is no grace period. USCIS rejects the 01/20/25 and 09/04/26 editions if postmarked or electronically submitted on or after Sept. 18, 2026. Filing addresses also changed on Oct. 7, 2026.
How to fill out Form I-485, line by line
| Part 1 | Information about you Your full legal name, other names, date and place of birth, A-Number, mailing and physical address, and details of your last arrival in the United States. |
| Part 2 | Application type or filing category Check the box for the category you are applying under, such as family-based or employment-based. Derivative spouses and children also give the principal applicant's details. |
| Part 3 | Request for exemption from the affidavit of support Only for applicants who believe they are exempt from submitting Form I-864. Most family-based applicants need an I-864 from their sponsor. |
| Part 4 | Additional information about you Questions on any earlier immigrant visa applications abroad, and your employment and education history for the last 5 years, including self-employment, unemployment, or retirement. Use Part 14 if you need more space. |
| Parts 5 to 7 | Parents, marital history, and children Give details about your parents, current and prior marriages, and all of your children, including those not applying with you. |
| Part 8 | Biographic information Ethnicity, race, height, weight, eye color, and hair color. |
| Part 9 | General eligibility and inadmissibility grounds Yes or no questions on immigration history, criminal history, security, and public charge. Answer every question. If you answer yes, explain in Part 14 and include the documents the instructions ask for. |
| Part 10 | Applicant's certification and signature Sign and date in ink. USCIS rejects unsigned applications. |
| Part 13 | Signature at interview Leave this blank. You sign it in front of a USCIS officer if you are interviewed. |
Common mistakes to avoid
- Using an old edition. After Sept. 18, 2026, USCIS rejects the 01/20/25 and 09/04/26 editions.
- Filing without Form I-693, the medical exam report, when it is required. USCIS says it may reject the I-485.
- Not signing the form. USCIS rejects unsigned applications.
- Filing before a visa number is available in your category, unless your category allows concurrent filing.
- Wrong or missing fee, including the separate fees for an I-765 or I-131 filed with an I-485 after April 1, 2024.
- Mixing pages from different editions or missing pages. USCIS says it may reject the form.
- Sending the I-693 opened when filing by mail. Paper filers send it in the civil surgeon's sealed envelope.
Questions about Form I-485
Can I file Form I-485 online?
Yes, for certain applicants. Standalone filings are available online when the underlying I-130, I-140, or I-360 was already filed. Concurrent online filing is for attorneys, accredited representatives, and I-140 self-petitioners.
Do I need a medical exam?
Most applicants must submit Form I-693 from a USCIS civil surgeon. By mail it goes in the sealed envelope. Online, you open the envelope, upload the form, and keep the original.
Can I apply for a work permit and travel document at the same time?
Yes. You can file Form I-765 and Form I-131 with your I-485. If your I-485 was filed on or after April 1, 2024, those forms need their own fees.
When can I file?
Usually only when an immigrant visa number is immediately available in your category. Immediate relatives of U.S. citizens always have a visa available.
Which edition should I use?
The 09/18/26 edition. USCIS rejects earlier editions postmarked or submitted on or after Sept. 18, 2026.
Do I need to send photos?
The instructions ask for two identical color passport-style photos taken recently.
Related forms
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Sources
Checked against the official sources on 2026-10-25. PDF Editor Hub is not affiliated with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services or any government agency. This page is general information, not legal or tax advice.
- https://www.uscis.gov/i-485
- https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/document/forms/i-485.pdf
- https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/document/forms/i-485instr.pdf
- https://www.uscis.gov/forms/all-forms/direct-filing-addresses-for-form-i-485-application-to-register-permanent-residence-or-adjust-status
- https://www.uscis.gov/g-1055
- https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/document/forms/g-1055.pdf
- https://www.uscis.gov/file-online/forms-available-to-file-online