Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status
Quick answer
Form I-485 is the green card application filed from inside the United States. Not everyone can use it: eligibility depends on the category, how the person entered and their immigration history. Filing when you do not qualify can create serious problems, so get a review first.
USCIS fee
- Most applicants
- $1,440
- Under 14, filing with a parent
- $950
Some humanitarian categories pay no fee.
Source: USCIS fee schedule, Form G-1055
- Who files
- The person who wants the green card
- For whom
- Relatives, workers, asylees, U and T visa holders and others who qualify to adjust
- How to file
- Usually by mail. The address depends on the category.
- What happens next
- Biometrics appointment, possible interview, then a decision.
Checklist: what to gather
Check what you already have. Nothing you check is sent or saved.
Common mistakes that cause delays
- Filing without checking whether you are allowed to adjust inside the U.S.
- Leaving out an arrest or a prior removal.
- A medical exam that is missing or too old.
Questions people ask
Can I work while it is pending?
You can ask for a work permit with Form I-765. If filed with or after a fee-paid I-485, its fee is $260.
Can I travel while it is pending?
Only with an approved travel document (Form I-131). Leaving without one can abandon the application.
Want our team to review it?
We will tell you whether this is the right form for you and what is missing before you file.
Official form
Download the newest edition and instructions free from USCIS. It opens the government website in a new tab.
uscis.gov/i-485Related forms
Sources: the USCIS Form I-485 page and the USCIS fee schedule (Form G-1055). Checked November 6, 2026. General information, not legal advice. Every case is different.