Your Guide to the I-485 Form: Requirements, Instructions, & More

Form I-485 Filing Instructions

You can acquire a copy of Form I-485 on the USCIS I-485 page here. From there, you can download the form and print it.

USCIS also provides an in-depth instruction guide for filling out the application here. However, it’s best to consult an immigration lawyer before submitting your Form I-485 application. Our dedicated immigration attorneys can guide you through each step of the process and answer any questions you may have along the way.

Form I-485 Checklist for Application

In addition to your completed I-485 “adjustment of status”, you will need to include a number of documents with your Form I-485 application. Your immigration attorney will help you assemble these documents, which include the following:

• Two passport-style photos
• I-94 travel document
• A copy of your birth certificate
• A copy of the approval receipt for your green card from the USCIS
• Your marriage certificate, if you are applying for a marriage-based green card
• Your job offer letter, if you are applying for an employment-based green card
• A copy of your Employment Authorization Document, if you have one
• I-797 approval receipt of your nonimmigrant visa
• A copy of the results of your medical examination, if necessary (Form I-693)

In case required supporting documents are not available, you may be eligible to submit alternative documents. For example, if you can’t obtain a copy of your birth certificate, you may submit other documents such as school or medical records, along with proof of nonexistence or unavailability. That can be a statement from a government agency responsible for such documents in your home country, certifying that such birth certificate can’t be obtained.

If neither of the above alternative documents is available, you may be able to submit written statements from at least two individuals who were alive when you were born and know the facts of your birth.

Supporting Documents for a Marriage-Based Form I-485

The above adjustment of status checklist is not all-inclusive. Depending on your specific circumstances, additional documentation may be necessary.

For example, you’ll need certain supporting documents with a marriage-based I-485 application. These documents may include Form I-864, otherwise called Affidavit of Support. This document will prove that the sponsoring spouse has the ability to financially support the spouse seeking a green card or lawful permanent residence.

Also, in case your foreign wife or husband is present in the U.S. it may be possible to file Form I-485 and I-130, called “Petition for Alien Relative” at the same time. This process is known as concurrent filing. Your Tadeo & Silva immigration lawyer will help you determine which documents are required for your application.

I-485 Interview Process

Once your application has been submitted, you will be asked to attend an interview. This is likely the final step of your application process.

USCIS does occasionally waive the interview requirement for applicants with straightforward cases, but this is relatively uncommon, so you will want to be prepared to speak face-to-face with an immigration official. Your lawyer can prepare you for your interview and will inform you of exactly what you need to be aware of going into the interview, which will vary depending on your eligibility category.

An I-485 interview normally takes about twenty-five minutes. Your interviewer will inquire about your application for adjustment of status and might ask you to elaborate on a few of your responses. They will also double-check that there is nothing on your record that would render you ineligible for an adjustment of status, such as a public charge.

At an employment-based I-485 interview, a USCIS officer will examine the applicant’s job description. USCIS will likewise inspect the applicant’s income taxes to identify if he or she has been employed in the US without approval. Employers are not required to participate in interviews for employment-based I-485 applications.

For a change of status based on a national interest waiver, the immigration officer carrying out the Form I-485 interview will want to know if the candidate has stayed in compliance with his or her initial Form I-140 and has not participated in fraud to acquire immigration advantages.

If you are applying for a marriage-based adjustment of status, both partners must attend the interview. You should expect the questions to be a bit more personal since USCIS needs to verify that the marital relationship is legitimate.

Form I-485 Interview Questions

The last step in becoming a green card holder is the I-485 interview. Although in some straightforward cases, USCIS may waive the interview, in case you have submitted an I-485 application to register an adjustment of status based on marriage, the interview will almost certainly take place.

If that is the case, here are some of the questions you may expect:

• When and where did you get married?
• Where did you go on your honeymoon?
• Where did your spouse live when you met them?
• What are your spouse’s favorite foods/hobbies/sibling’s names?
• What is the monthly payment for your cars if you have any?
• Who pays the household bills and how?
• What does your bedroom look like?
• How many sleeping rooms do you have in your home?
• Are the sleeping rooms on the same side of your place of living?
• Do you sleep on the right or the left side of the bed?

It’s normal to be nervous before your green card interview. Even though you are encouraged to practice your answers, don’t learn them by heart. Try to sound natural. You are not obligated to portray the perfect marriage, but you should answer truthfully to the officer’s questions.