Adjustment of Status (Form I-485)

Updated 2026-05-29 · General information, not legal advice.

Adjustment of status (AOS), Form I-485, lets certain people already in the United States apply for a green card without returning to their home country for consular processing. It is common for spouses of US citizens who are already in the US, and for K-1 fiancés after marriage.

Who Qualifies

You generally need an immigrant petition (such as an approved or concurrently filed I-130), an immigrant visa immediately available to you, and a lawful entry/admission. Immediate relatives of US citizens (spouses, parents, unmarried children under 21) can often file the I-130 and I-485 together.

The Steps

  1. File Form I-485 (often with I-130, and optionally I-765 for a work permit and I-131 for travel permission).
  2. Attend a biometrics appointment.
  3. Complete the medical exam (Form I-693) by a USCIS-designated civil surgeon.
  4. Attend the green-card interview at a local USCIS office.

AOS vs. Consular Processing

AOS is for people already in the US; consular processing is for those abroad (interview at the US Consulate in Ho Chi Minh City). You also still file the Affidavit of Support (I-864).

Travel caution: Leaving the US while I-485 is pending without an approved Advance Parole (I-131) can be treated as abandoning the application.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work while my I-485 is pending?

Yes, if you file Form I-765 and receive an Employment Authorization Document (EAD). Many applicants file it together with the I-485.

Can I travel abroad during AOS?

Only with an approved Advance Parole (Form I-131). Leaving without it can be treated as abandoning your I-485.

Do I still need the Affidavit of Support?

Yes. Family-based AOS still requires Form I-864 from the sponsor.