Individuals who are in the United States on an immigration visa will use Form I-485 adjustment of status application to obtain a green card (permanent residence) by filing with United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

A Form I-485 Application to Adjust Status to Permanent Resident is for applicants who are in the U.S. and are eligible to apply for a Green Card based on sponsorship by an employer or family member or based on holding asylee or refugee status. The application is made on Form I-485 (adjustment of status).

Applicants who are currently inside the U.S. and have an approved Immigrant Petition may be eligible to file an Application to Adjust Status to Permanent Resident. Unless an applicant is applying in a category for which visa numbers are always available, an applicant must have a "current" Priority Date in order to be eligible to file. Click here to start your Application to Adjust Status to Permanent Resident.

Applicants who are applying on the basis of their relationship with a U.S. citizen spouse, parent or child may be eligible to file the Application to Adjust Status to Permanent Resident at the same time that the Immigrant Petition is submitted. Click here to start the process.

Individuals who have held asylee or refugee status for one year or more may also be eligible to file the Application to Adjust Status to Permanent Resident. Click here to get started.

Applicants who are outside the U.S. are not eligible to file an Application to Adjust Status to Permanent Resident. Eligible applicants outside the U.S. may obtain Green Card status by applying for an Immigrant Visa at a U.S. consulate abroad.

The benefit of completing form I-485 application online is it reduces the risk of your adjustment of status application being rejected. Once you submit your accurately completed form I-485 application you will need to send the supporting documents and applicable fees to the designated USCIS address. If you are 79 years or older, you will not be charged a biometric fee. If you are filing this form on the basis of being admitted to the United States as a refugee, then you need not pay any filing fee.

When applying for U.S. Citizenship through naturalization, United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) does require a Citizenship test to be taken by all applicants. The Citizenship test will be based on the ability of reading, writing and speaking English, knowledge of American history and the government of the United States.