Form I-485: Registering Permanent Residence or Adjusting Status
Helping You Obtain a Green Card in Los Angeles
If you have legal status in the U.S., you may be eligible for a green card. You might have already obtained an immigrant visa abroad, or you could have temporary status in the U.S. due to a nonimmigrant visa or asylum. No matter the case, the final step in obtaining a green card is filing Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status. Once you become a permanent resident, you can sponsor certain family members, travel abroad more easily and frequently, begin accumulating the residency requirement for citizenship, and much more.
The Law Offices of Michael M. Felix routinely help immigrants become lawful permanent residents. The process can be extensive and time-consuming, and we can help you avoid common pitfalls that could delay or prevent you from obtaining a green card.
Learn more by filling out our online contact form. We can answer your questions and address your concerns during a complimentary consultation.
When to File Form I-485
The permanent residency process is particularly confusing because it takes place in several stages. Form I-485 is the status adjustment/registration process, and it takes place after an employer or family member has successfully petitioned your case (or, in limited cases, after you have self-petitioned).
Prospective permanent residents can file Form I-485 once your petition (e.g. Form I-130, I-140, or I-360) has been approved and a green card becomes available in your category. Every month, the Department of State releases a Visa Bulletin letting applicants know when they can file Form I-485. The bulletin is organized by type of immigration and original petition filing dates.
Most critically, you must be physically present in the U.S. to file Form I-485.
What to Include with Your Application
What you will need to include depends on a host of factors, including your immigrant category. In most cases, you will need to include a filing fee (use USCIS’s filing fee calculator to determine yours), certified translations of any documents in languages other than English, and substantial evidence and supporting documentation.
Generally, evidence will include:
- Two passport-style photographs of yourself
- Government-issued ID (with photo)
- Birth certificate (unless you are a refugee or asylee, or it is otherwise unavailable)
- Copies of documentation from your inspection when you were admitted or paroled into the U.S. (unless you are an asylee, VAWA self-petitioner, special immigrant juvenile, or another exempt applicant)
- Proof of your eligible immigrant category (i.e. immigrant petition and copy of approval notice)
- Proof of family relationship or bona fide employment relationship/job offer
- Evidence of continuous lawful status since arriving in the U.S.
- Form I-864, Affidavit of Support and I-944, Declaration of Self-Sufficiency (requirements per the new public charge rule, which requires you to prove that you will not become a “public charge” once you obtain a green card)
- Form I-693, Report of Medical Examination and Vaccination Record
- Certified police/court records of charges, arrests, or convictions, if applicable
- Waiver of Inadmissibility, if applicable
Helping You Complete the Status Adjustment Process
To successfully obtain a green card, you must submit substantial evidence, be careful of travel restrictions, and be prepared to defend your case in an interview or even a courtroom. The smallest errors can result in a denial, and many denials are not appealable. For the best chances at becoming a lawful permanent resident, retain the skilled services of the Law Offices of Michael M. Felix.
We know what’s at stake with this application. Contact us online to get started with your free consultation.