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.