Adjustment of Status: Get a Green Card Without Leaving the U.S.
Adjustment of status is how certain immigrants already in the United States apply for a green card without leaving the country. This guide explains who qualifies, what forms are required, how work and travel authorization work during the process, what to expect at your interview, and how long it typically takes. If you're just starting to explore your options, you're in the right place.
Key Takeaways
- Adjustment of status lets eligible immigrants apply for a green card without leaving the United States.
- To qualify, you must be physically present, have entered lawfully, have a visa available, and be admissible.
- For family-based cases, adjustment is typically available only to immediate relatives of a U.S. citizen.
- Filing Forms I-765 and I-131 with your I-485 lets you work and travel while your case is pending.
- Most applicants attend an in-person USCIS interview before a decision is made.
- The process typically takes 8–14 months, though timelines vary by location and caseload.
What Is Adjustment of Status?
Adjustment of status is the U.S. immigration process that allows certain foreign nationals already inside the country to apply for lawful permanent residence — a green card — without leaving the United States.
The alternative is consular processing. That path requires the applicant to leave the U.S. and attend an immigrant visa interview at an American embassy or consulate abroad. Consular processing is handled by the U.S. Department of State; adjustment of status is handled entirely by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
Which path applies to you depends on where you are, how you entered, and your immigration category. Many people inside the U.S. qualify to adjust. Some do not, and consular processing becomes their only option. Our guide to adjustment of status vs consular processing walks through the differences in detail.
Adjustment of Status Eligibility Requirements
Adjustment of status is only available to people already inside the U.S. who meet specific requirements. At a minimum, you must:
Be physically present in the United States when you file
You must be inside the U.S. when USCIS receives your application and remain inside the U.S. throughout the process. Adjustment of status is not available to people living abroad.Have entered the U.S. lawfully
This means an immigration officer inspected and admitted you at a port of entry. If you entered on a visa that has since expired, you still had a lawful entry. People who crossed the border without inspection generally cannot adjust status. Check your evidence of a lawful entry →Have an immigrant visa immediately available to you
For family-based applications, immediate relatives of U.S. citizens always have a visa available. However, other family categories must wait until their I-130 petition is approved and priority date is current in the Visa Bulletin →Be admissible to the United States
Admissibility means no legal bars prevent your green card approval. Common grounds of inadmissibility include prior immigration violations, certain criminal history, and health-related bars. Some grounds can be waived; others cannot. Review the grounds of inadmissibility →
Only a very limited group of people can adjust status. That’s why adjustment is generally only used by some immediate relatives, spouses that entered as K-1 fiancés, asylees, refugees, or those who arrived on an employment visa (e.g. H-1B) and the employer sponsored them for a green card.
Not sure if you qualify? CitizenPath lets you check eligibility before you pay a thing. Get started on an Adjustment of Status Package for free →
The Adjustment of Status Application
Adjustment of status cases require a package of forms filed together with USCIS — this is called concurrent filing. A typical family-based package includes:
- Form I-485 — Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status (the core form)
- Form I-130 — Petition for Alien Relative, establishing the qualifying family relationship
- Form I-130A — Supplemental Information (spouse cases only)
- Form I-864 — Affidavit of Support, completed by the financial sponsor
- Form I-693 — Medical Examination and Vaccination Record, completed by a civil surgeon
- Form I-765 — Application for Employment Authorization (optional but recommended)
- Form I-131 — Application for Travel Document/Advance Parole (optional but recommended)
Each form requires you to submit several supporting documents. CitizenPath's attorney-designed software walks you through every question and generates a personalized document checklist for your situation. See how the Adjustment of Status Package works →
Adjustment of Status Work Permit
While your I-485 is pending, you are not automatically authorized to work in the United States. You must file Form I-765 to obtain an Employment Authorization Document (EAD). Filing it at the same time as your I-485 gets you the fastest approval — USCIS generally processes EADs in 3–6 months. The card is valid for one year and renewable while your case remains pending.
Working without a valid EAD while your I-485 is pending can put your entire application at risk. Learn more about getting an adjustment of status work permit →
Advance Parole Travel Document
While your case is pending, you are not automatically authorized to leave and reenter the United States. You must file Form I-131 to obtain an advance parole document before departing for any reason. Leaving without one — even for a family emergency — can cause USCIS to consider your application abandoned, which is very difficult to undo.
Advance parole authorizes your reentry but does not guarantee admission. You remain subject to inspection at the port of entry. Before making plans, learn more about advance parole travel rules →
Adjustment of Status Fees
The total cost of adjustment of status depends on your case type, which forms are filed, and your individual circumstances. USCIS fees are set by federal regulation and change periodically.
Because several variables affect the overall cost, it's worth reviewing your specific situation before budgeting. For an overview of the total fees and typical forms for your situation, use CitizenPath's adjustment of status fee tool →
How Long Does Adjustment of Status Take
After filing, USCIS schedules a biometrics appointment for fingerprints, a photo, and signature — typically within a few weeks. Generally, an interview follows several months later. For most family-based applicants, the full process takes 8–14 months from filing to approval, though timelines vary by USCIS field office and caseload.
| # | Step | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | File the Package | Submit Form I-485 with all required forms and supporting documents |
| 2 | Biometrics Appointment | USCIS collects fingerprints, photo, and signature for background check |
| 3 | Receive EAD | USCIS issues work permit if Form I-765 was filed |
| 4 | Receive Advance Parole | USCIS issues travel document if Form I-131 was filed |
| 5 | Adjustment Interview | USCIS officer reviews the case; petitioner typically attends in marriage cases |
| 6 | Green Card Decision | USCIS approves the case and mails the green card |
For a detailed look at what to expect after filing, see the I-485 processing time page →
Start Your Application with Confidence
CitizenPath helps thousands of families prepare adjustment of status applications affordably and accurately. Our step-by-step software makes it easy to complete USCIS forms, avoid mistakes, and get approved quickly. You get real, human support when it matters.
Common Adjustment of Status Problems
Most adjustment of status denials and delays are avoidable. The issues that derail cases tend to fall into the same predictable patterns — and knowing them in advance puts you in a much stronger position.