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I-485 Checklist

Checklist of forms and supporting documents for I-485
Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status

  • Form I-485 (type or print in black ink, answer all questions, use N/A or "none" when necessary, and don't forget to sign it!);
  • Form I-485A, Supplement A, if filed under 245(i);
  • Fee payment checks;
  • Form G-325A, Biographic Information Sheet, for applicants between 14 and 79 years of age;
  • Approval notice for I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker;
  • Form I-693, Medical Examination, signed and sealed by a designated physician;
  • Form G-28, if you have an attorney representing your case;
  • Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization (EAD), optional but recommended;
  • Form I-131, Application for Travel Document (Advance Parole - AP), optional but recommended;
  • Form I-864, Affidavit of Support, if applicable;
  • Passport photos, 2"x2" full face color frontal view on a white or off-white background (although USCIS now uses your photos taken during fingerprint appointment);
  • Birth certificate, or other records of your birth (for example, notarized birth documents for Chinese nationals);
  • Passport pages with non-immigrant visas (some immigration lawyers ask for copies of all pages, just to be safe);
  • Arrest and criminal history. Even if no charges were filed, or all charges were dismissed, or any conviction was vacated, sealed, expunged or otherwise removed from your record, they still need to be reported and accompanied with certified documents and court orders. Consult an immigration attorney if you are not sure whether a particular incident was considered an arrest;
  • Form I-134, Affidavit of Support, if you file as a derivative, (this is different from I-864);
  • Employment verification letter from sponsoring employer, on a company letterhead, stating your salary, position and the job is still available;
  • Tax returns for the previous two years;
  • W-2 forms for the previous two years;
  • Recent pay stubs;
  • Degree certificates;
  • All previous EAD's including student practical training;
  • All I-94 cards used to enter the US;
  • All I-20 and I-797 forms, required by some law firms;

If I-485 is filed concurrently with I-140, add:

  • Form I-140 or receipt of a pending I-140;
  • A labor certification or request for a national interest waiver;
  • Supporting cover letter from employer;
  • Employment verification letters from previous jobs;
  • Other evidence that you meet LC requirements;
  • Evidence that the employer has the ability to pay the wage.

Note 1: This is not an exclusive list, rather it is for references only. Each case is unique, and each law firm may have different requirements.

Note 2: Unless specifically stated that original documents are required, legible photocopies should be used for all supporting documents.

Note 3: Any document containing foreign language shall be accompanied by a full English language translation which the translator has certified as complete and accurate. The translator must also certify he or she is competent to translate from the foreign language into English.

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