Instructions For Application To Register Permanent Residence Or Adjust Status (Form I-485) (Page 4 of 42) in pdf

When Should I File Form I-485?

This section provides general information on when you should file Form I-485.

Principal Applicant

In general, if you are filing as a beneficiary of an immigrant visa petition (such as Form I-130, Form I-140, or Form

I-360), you may file an adjustment application only after USCIS has approved your petition and an immigrant visa

number is immediately available. There are, however, some immigrant categories that allow you to file Form I-485 before

USCIS approves your petition (this is known as “concurrent filing”), provided that approval of the petition would make

a visa number immediately available and you meet all other filing requirements. See the Additional Instructions for

category-specific information on when you may file Form I-485.

Visit the USCIS website at

priority-dates

for information on visa availability and priority dates, and the DOS website at

content/visas/en/law-and-policy/bulletin.html

to view the Visa Bulletin.

More information about concurrent filing is available at

procedures/concurrent-filing

and in the instructions for Forms I-130, I-140, and I-360.

Derivative Adjustment Applicant

With the exception of U nonimmigrants, asylees, and refugees, USCIS cannot approve your Form I-485 as a derivative

applicant until the principal applicant has been granted lawful permanent resident status.

If you are currently the spouse or child (unmarried and under 21 years of age) of a principal applicant, you may file Form

I-485 if an immigrant visa is immediately available to you and you meet all the filing requirements. You may file at any of

the following times:

1. At the same time the principal applicant files Form I-485;

2. After the principal applicant filed a Form I-485 that remains pending a final decision by USCIS;

3. After USCIS approves the principal applicant’s Form I-485, if the principal applicant is still a lawful permanent

resident and if, at the time of the principal applicant’s Form I-485 approval, you were the principal applicant’s spouse

or child; or

4. After the principal applicant obtained an immigrant visa and entered the United States as a lawful permanent resident

if the principal applicant is still a lawful permanent resident and, at the time of the principal applicant’s entry, you

were the principal applicant’s spouse or child.

General Instructions

USCIS provides forms free of charge through the USCIS website. In order to view, print, or fill out our forms, you should

use the latest version of Adobe Reader, which you can download for free at If you do not

have Internet access, you may call the USCIS National Customer Service Center at 1-800-375-5283 and ask that we mail

a form to you. For TTY (deaf or hard of hearing) call: 1-800-767-1833.

Form G-325A, Biographic Information. Form G-325A is no longer required. You do not need to submit a separate

Form G-325A with this Form I-485. Parts 1. and 3. of this Form I-485 meet the requirements of 8 CFR 245.3(a)(3)(i) by

collecting the biographical information formerly required on Form G-325A.

Form I-485 Instructions 06/26/17 N

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Instructions For Application To Register Permanent Residence Or Adjust Status (Form I-485) Page 4