Last updated: November 9, 2025.
By Asel Williams, Esq. · Columbia Law School · Licensed immigration attorney
Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, is an immigration form used to apply for permanent residence in the U.S.
Form I-485 is filed by nonimmigrants physically present in the U.S. who want to complete the immigration process within the U.S.
This process is called “Adjustment of Status”. We have discussed the Adjustment of Status requirements and application process in detail here.
Important: some applicants are subject to the 90-Day Rule that prevents them from filing Form I-485 within the first 90 days since their most recent arrival in the US on a nonimmigrant visa.
Check if you are subject to the 90-Day Rule.
Form I-485 checklist
See the full checklist of documents to submit with Form I-485: Form I-485 Checklist of Required Documents
Form I-485 filing fees
The filing fee for Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, varies depending on your category:
| I-485 Filing Category | Paper Filing Fee |
| General Filing | $1,440 |
| If under 14 years of age and submitting Form I-485 concurrently with the Form I-485 of one parent. | $950 |
| If you are filing as an applicant who served honorably on active duty in the U.S. armed forces and who is filing under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) section 101(a)(27)(K). | $0 |
| If you are filing as a refugee or you were paroled as a refugee. | $0 |
| If you are in deportation, exclusion, or removal proceedings before an immigration judge, and the court waives your application fee. | $0 |
| If you are filing as a person seeking or granted Special Immigrant Juvenile classification. | $0 |
| If you are filing as a U nonimmigrant seeking adjustment of status under INA section 245(m). | $0 |
| If you are filing as a T nonimmigrant seeking adjustment of status under INA section 245(l). | $0 |
If you are filing as a person seeking or granted special immigrant visa or status as:
|
$0 |
| If you are filing under Section 13 of Pub. L. 85-316 as an Afghan diplomat or immediate family member who held valid A or G status on July 14, 2021. | $0 |
| If you are filing as a person seeking adjustment of status as an abused spouse or child under the Cuban Adjustment Act (CAA). | $0 |
| If you are filing as a person seeking adjustment of status as an abused spouse or child under the Haitian Refugee Immigration Fairness Act (HRIFA). | $0 |
| If you are filing as a person seeking immigrant classification as a Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) self-petitioner (including derivatives). | $0 |
Fee waiver:
- Some applicants may be eligible for a fee waiver
- If your fee waiver is approved, you do not need to pay the Form I-485 filing fee
- Learn more: Form I-912, Request for Fee Waiver
How long does it take for Form I-485 to be approved?
The processing time for Form I-485 can vary depending on several factors such as:
- Workload of the USCIS office
- Applicant’s category (immediate relatives’ applications can be processed faster)
- Completeness of the application
- Requests for additional evidence (RFEs)
Source: USCIS Processing Times
Family-Based Form I-485 Processing Time
| Application center | Processing time |
| Agana GU | 8.5 Months to 25.5 Months |
| Albany NY | 8.5 Months to 25.5 Months |
| Albuquerque NM | 8.5 Months to 25.5 Months |
| Anchorage AK | 8.5 Months to 25.5 Months |
| Atlanta GA | 9 Months to 29 Months |
| Baltimore MD | 13.5 Months to 38.5 Months |
| Boise ID | 8.5 Months to 25.5 Months |
| Boston MA | 7 Months to 21.5 Months |
| Brooklyn NY | 12.5 Months to 31.5 Months |
| Buffalo NY | 8.5 Months to 25.5 Months |
| Charleston SC | 10 Months to 31 Months |
| Charlotte Amalie VI | 8.5 Months to 25.5 Months |
| Charlotte NC | 8.5 Months to 25.5 Months |
| Chicago IL | 6 Months to 28.5 Months |
| Christiansted VI | 8.5 Months to 25.5 Months |
| Cincinnati OH | 8.5 Months to 25.5 Months |
| Cleveland OH | 8.5 Months to 25.5 Months |
| Columbus OH | 8.5 Months to 25.5 Months |
| Dallas TX | 8 Months to 23 Months |
| Denver CO | 7.5 Months to 23 Months |
| Des Moines IA | 8.5 Months to 25.5 Months |
| Detroit MI | 6.5 Months to 12.5 Months |
| El Paso TX | 5.5 Months to 11.5 Months |
| Fort Myers FL | 8.5 Months to 27 Months |
| Fort Smith AR | 8.5 Months to 25.5 Months |
| Fresno CA | 6 Months to 10.5 Months |
| Greer SC | 8.5 Months to 25.5 Months |
| Harlingen TX | 6.5 Months to 16 Months |
| Hartford CT | 10.5 Months to 22.5 Months |
| Helena MT | 8.5 Months to 25.5 Months |
| Hialeah FL | 8.5 Months to 23 Months |
| Honolulu HI | 8.5 Months to 25.5 Months |
| Houston TX | 12.5 Months to 31.5 Months |
| Imperial CA | 8.5 Months to 25.5 Months |
| Indianapolis IN | 9 Months to 27.5 Months |
| Jacksonville FL | 8.5 Months to 25.5 Months |
| Kansas City MO | 6.5 Months to 23.5 Months |
| Kendall FL | 10 Months to 31.5 Months |
| Las Vegas NV | 8 Months to 22.5 Months |
| Lawrence MA | 7.5 Months to 29 Months |
| Long Island NY | 7.5 Months to 27 Months |
| Los Angeles CA | 7 Months to 23 Months |
| Los Angeles County CA | 8.5 Months to 23 Months |
| Louisville KY | 8.5 Months to 25.5 Months |
| Manchester NH | 8.5 Months to 25.5 Months |
| Memphis Tennessee | 6 Months to 11 Months |
| Miami FL | 21.5 Months to 40.5 Months |
| Milwaukee WI | 8.5 Months to 25.5 Months |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul MN | 8 Months to 21.5 Months |
| Montgomery AL | 7 Months to 17.5 Months |
| Mount Laurel NJ | 8 Months to 22 Months |
| Nashville Tennessee | 8.5 Months to 25.5 Months |
| Newark NJ | 11 Months to 22.5 Months |
| New Orleans LA | 8.5 Months to 25.5 Months |
| New York City NY | 12.5 Months to 32 Months |
| Norfolk VA | 7 Months to 18.5 Months |
| Oakland Park FL | 12.5 Months to 34 Months |
| Oklahoma City OK | 8.5 Months to 25.5 Months |
| Omaha NE | 8.5 Months to 25.5 Months |
| Orlando FL | 9.5 Months to 23 Months |
| Philadelphia PA | 8 Months to 25.5 Months |
| Phoenix AZ | 9 Months to 29 Months |
| Pittsburgh PA | 8.5 Months to 25.5 Months |
| Portland ME | 8.5 Months to 25.5 Months |
| Portland OR | 8.5 Months to 25.5 Months |
| Providence RI | 8.5 Months to 25.5 Months |
| Queens NY | 10 Months to 26.5 Months |
| Raleigh NC | 7 Months to 27 Months |
| Reno NV | 8.5 Months to 25.5 Months |
| Sacramento CA | 11.5 Months to 22.5 Months |
| Saint Albans VT | 8.5 Months to 25.5 Months |
| Saint Louis MO | 8.5 Months to 25.5 Months |
| Salt Lake City UT | 8.5 Months to 21 Months |
| San Antonio TX | 7.5 Months to 15 Months |
| San Bernardino CA | 6 Months to 14 Months |
| San Diego CA | 7 Months to 15.5 Months |
| San Fernando Valley CA | 7 Months to 19 Months |
| San Francisco CA | 11 Months to 25 Months |
| San Jose CA | 11.5 Months to 21 Months |
| San Juan PR | 8.5 Months to 25.5 Months |
| Santa Ana CA | 9.5 Months to 20.5 Months |
| Seattle WA | 17.5 Months to 26.5 Months |
| Spokane WA | 8.5 Months to 25.5 Months |
| Tampa FL | 8 Months to 19 Months |
| Tucson AZ | 8.5 Months to 25.5 Months |
| Washington DC | 12 Months to 21.5 Months |
| West Palm Beach FL | 10 Months to 32 Months |
| Wichita KS | 8.5 Months to 25.5 Months |
| Yakima WA | 8.5 Months to 25.5 Months |
Employment-Based Form I-485 Processing Time
| Application center | Processing time |
| All application centers | 8.5 Months to 27.5 Months |
Asylum-Based Form I-485 Processing Time
| Application center | Processing time |
| Nebraska Service Center | 7 Months to 31 Months |
| Texas Service Center | 7 Months to 31 Months |
Refugee-Based Form I-485 Processing Times
| Application center | Processing time |
| Nebraska Service Center | 9.5 Months to 13.5 Months |
Under HRIFA, Indochinese Adjustment Act, Legal Immigration and Family Equity Act, or NACARA Form I-485 Processing Times
| Application center | Processing time |
| Nebraska Service Center | 14.5 Months to 64 Months |
Based on an approved T Visa Form I-485 Processing Times
| Application center | Processing time |
| Vermont Service Center | 34.5 Months |
Based on an approved U Visa Form I-485 Processing Times
| Application center | Processing time |
| Nebraska | 22 Months |
| Vermont Service Center | 28 Months |
To check the most current processing times for Form I-485:
- Visit the USCIS website at https://egov.uscis.gov/processing-times
- Select “Form I-485”
- Select your category
- Find your service center (you can find the service center in the lower left corner of Form I-485 receipt notice)
- How to find your USCIS local field office:
- Visit USCIS website at https://www.uscis.gov/about-us/find-a-uscis-office/field-offices
- Scroll down to the “Field Office Locator”
- Enter Form I-485 applicant’s physical address ZIP code
Keep in mind that processing times are general estimates, and individual cases may take less or more time to complete.
Additionally, USCIS may issue Requests for Evidence (RFEs) during the processing of your application, which can add to the overall processing time.
It’s crucial to respond promptly and thoroughly if you receive an RFE to avoid delays.
If your case is outside the normal processing time, you place an Outside Normal Processing Time e-Request or request assistance from your local congressman’s office.
Form I-485 EAD processing time
The processing time for Form I-485-based Employment Authorization Document (EAD), can vary depending on factors such as:
- Workload of the USCIS office
- Your EAD category
- Completeness of the application
- Requests for additional evidence (RFEs)
Form I-765 (EAD) Processing Time
| Category | USCIS Service Center | Average processing time |
| Based on a pending I-485 Adjustment of Status (c)(9) | California Service Center |
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| National Benefits Center |
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| Nebraska Service Center |
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| Texas Service Center |
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| Vermont Service Center |
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What happens if Form I-485 is denied?
- If Form I-485 is denied by USCIS the applicant will be informed of the reasons
- There is no appeal of a Form I-485 denial
- Applicant can file a motion to reopen or reconsider with USCIS (Form I-290B)
- If the applicant is placed in removal (deportation) proceedings, applicants can reapply for Adjustment of Status before an immigration judge
Form I-485 Instructions FAQs
What is the I-485 form for?
Form I-485 is a green card application filed with USCIS by nonimmigrant physically present in the U.S.
What is the difference between green card and I-485?
Form I-485 is a green card application. If Form I-485 is approved, it means that applicant’s permanent residence is approved and an original green card will be sent by mail.
Does I-485 approval mean green card?
Yes, Form I-485 approval means that the green card was approved. It typically takes about 1-2 weeks for the green card to be approved and mailed to the applicant. USPS tracking number will posted to the I-485 online status.
How long does it take to get a green card from I-485?
It can take anywhere from 6 months to 36 months for Form I-485 to be approved. The actual processing time mainly depends on your immigration category. You can check the average USCIS case processing times for your I-485 category and service center here.
Related Links:
Form I-485 Checklist of Required Documents