Last updated: January 15, 2020

‍

If you are from Canada and you are trying to get your green card you will need a specific copy of your birth certificate. You may be asking, "Which birth certificate will the USCIS accept for Canadian citizens?" or "Where to I get a copy of my Canadian birth certificate for a green card?" The following is a guide that will help you know which type of birth certificate is preferred by the USCIS and will be accepted with a green card, legal permanent residency application. Every year tens of thousands of Canadian-born immigrants go through the immigration process in the United States. At SimpleCitizen, we are proud of the fact that a large percentage of our customers hail from the Maple Leaf. Our friends from Canada enjoy special rules when obtaining visas, green cards and citizenship. Although some of the special rules make it easier for Canadian citizens to come to the United States they can cause some confusion as Canadians try to submit green card or citizenship applications. An essential and required piece of the green card application is a copy of the applicant’s birth certificate. This requirement is the source of a lot of confusion for Canadians trying to prepare an Adjustment of Status application for Legal Permanent Residency. Birth certificates in Canada are issued by the individual Province or Territory where the birth took place. There are basically two types of birth certificates that can be issued:

The Short Form or Small

This certificate is printed on a small card. It is usually the size of a standard driver’s license and small enough to fit in a wallet (9.5 x 6.4 cm / 2.5 x 3.75 in). These certificates are not accepted by the USCIS or the DHS because they do not have required information such as the names of parents.

The Long Form, Large or Full-size

This certificate is a printed copy from the records of the province. It is usually on “currency-style paper stock” with intaglio border (21.6 x 17.8 cm / 7 x 8.25 in). These certificates are accepted by the USCIS and the DHS.There are specific types of birth certificates and each province has their own name for the certificate that is accepted by the USCIS and their own process for obtaining a copy. The following is a province-by-province guide for getting the right birth certificate attached to your green card application for the USCIS.

Alberta

If you were born in Alberta you need to attach a copy of your "large sized" certificate. If you don’t have a copy you can work with the Alberta Vital Statistics using a private Alberta Registry Agent. If you need information on official Registry Agents they are available online.

British Columbia

If you were born in British Columbia you need to attach a copy of your "large" certificate. If you don’t have a copy you can request one from the Vital Statistics Agency. They have offices in Victoria and Vancouver. You can also access copies through British Columbia Government Agents throughout the province. If you need information on official Government Agents, locations of Vital Statistics offices or mail-order instructions they are available online.

Manitoba

If you were born in Manitoba you need to include a copy of your "large" certificate. If you don’t have a copy you can obtain one from the Vital Statistics Agency. They have offices in Winnipeg (254 Portage Avenue, Winnipeg, 204-945-3701). If you need more information or mail-order instructions they are available online.

New Brunswick

If you were born in New Brunswick your immigration paperwork should include a copy of your "long-form certified copies" birth certificate. If you don’t have a copy you can obtain one from the Vital Statistics Office. Their office is located in Fredericton (435 King Street, Suite 203, tel: 506-453-2385). If you need more information or mail-order instructions they are available online.

Newfoundland and Labrador

If you were born in Newfoundland and Labrador you need to attach a copy of your "long-form certificates" birth certificate. If you don’t have a copy you can obtain one from the Vital Statistics Division. Their office is located in St. John’s (5 Mews Place, tel: 709-729-3308). You can also request a copy via one of the Government Service Center locations around the province. If you need more information, locations or mail-order instructions they are available online.

Northwest Territories

If you were born in Northwest Territories you need to make a copy of your "restricted photocopy" or “framing” birth certificate. If you don’t have a copy you can obtain one from the Registrar General of Vital Statistics. Their office is the Registrar General of Vital Statistics in the Inuvik Office of the Department of Health and Social Services ( tel: 867-777-7420). You can also request a copy via mail written to:Registrar General of Vital Statistics, Government of the NWT, Bag 9 (107 MacKenzie Road/IDC Building, second floor), Inuvik, NT, X0A 0T0 (fax: 867-777-3197).

Nova Scotia

If you were born in Nova Scotia your immigration paperwork should include a copy of your “large" birth certificate. If you don’t have a copy you can obtain one from the Vital Statistics Office. Their office is in Halifax (Joseph Howe Building, 1690 Hollis Street., ground floor, tel:902-424-4381). If you need more information or how to order via mail they are available online.

Nunavut

If you were born in Nunavut you need to attach a copy of your “large" birth certificate. If you don’t have a copy you can obtain a certified copy from the Vital Statistics Division. Their office is based out of the Kivalliq Regional Office of the Department of Health and Social Services (tel:867-645-2171). You can also request one via mail by writing to: Social Services, Bag 3 RSO Building, Rankin Inlet, NU, X0C 0G0 (fax: 867-645-2580).

• Note: Before April 1, 1999 Nunavut was part of the Northwest Territories. So if you were born in the Nunavut region of Northwest Territories before 1999, you should request your birth certificate from the Northwest Territories Registrar General of Vital Statistics.

Ontario

If you were born in Ontario you need to attach a copy of your "large" birth certificate. If you don’t have a copy you can obtain a certified one from the Office of the Registrar General. Their office is located in Toronto (Macdonald Block, 900 Bay Street, second floor, tel: 416-325-8305). You can also request a copy via one of the Ontario Land Registry Offices and Government Information Centers located throughout the province. If you need more information, locations or mail-order instructions they are available online.

Prince Edward Island

If you were born in Prince Edward Island and are completing your immigration paperwork you need to attach a copy of your "framing size" birth certificate. If you don’t have a copy you can obtain a certified copy from the Office of Vital Statistics. Their office is located in Montague (126 Douses Road, tel:902-838-0080). There is also an office in Charlottetown (16 Garfield Street, tel:902-368-6185). If you need more information, locations or mail-order instructions they are available online.

Quebec

If you were born in Quebec you should attach a copy of your "certified copies of an act" birth certificate. If you don’t have a copy you can obtain a certified copy from the Direction de l' Etat Civil. Their office is located in Montreal (2050, rue de Bleury, sixth floor, tel:514-864-3900). There is also an office in Quebec City (2535, boulevard Laurier, Ground Floor, Sainte-Foy, tel:418-643-3900; fax:418-646-3255). If you need more information, locations or mail-order instructions they are available online.

Saskatchewan

If you were born in Saskatchewan you should attach a certified copy of your "frame" birth certificate. If you don’t have a copy of this birth certificate you can request a copy of a registration from the Vital Statistics Office in Regina (1942 Hamilton Street, tel:306-787-3251).

Yukon Territory

If you were born in the Yukon Territory you should obtain a copy of your "large" birth certificate. If you don’t have one you can request certified copies of a registration from the Vital Statistics Agency in Whitehorse (204 Lambert Street, fourth floor, tel: 867-667-5207) or a Yukon Territorial Agent. Further information, including mail-order instructions, is available online.Hopefully this article has helped you understand exactly what Canadian documents you need to prepare and where you can find them when tackling immigration paperwork. Please share this article if you know someone from Canada that can use SimpleCitizen.

Last Updated: May 8, 2024

‍

Obtaining lawful permanent residence status, or a green card, is a necessary step on the way to becoming a U.S. Citizen. As a green card holder, in addition to the right to live and work in the U.S. on a permanent basis, you gain an important new set of rights. Significantly, you can now sponsor certain relatives applying for their own green cards. You are also allowed to travel from and return to the U.S. without disrupting your status. Green card holders can make campaign contributions, receive Social Security benefits after ten years of work in the country, and are eligible to get in-state tuition.. If you are interested in applying for a green card, this guide will help you understand the avenues for obtaining a green card, specifically detailing the process for those eligible through an immediate family member.

Green Card Eligibility

In general, to apply for permanent residence in the U.S. you must meet each of the following requirements.

1. You must be eligible for one of the immigrant categories set forth by the Immigration and Nationality Act. The most common immigrant categories are having a qualified family member, having a job offer or employment, or being a refugee or having asylum status. There are many other avenues of eligibility, including for victims of trafficking and the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program, so consult the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) website to determine your status.
2. For most immigrant categories, an immigrant petition that establishes the basis for your immigrant eligibility must be filed on your behalf.
3. You must be eligible for admission to the United States, meaning there are no health-related, criminal, security or other grounds for inadmissibility.
4. A visa must be immediately available. For immediate relatives of a U.S. Citizen, visas are always available, but for all others, there are a limited number of visas awarded each year. The order in which these visas are assigned is determined by immigrant visa preference categories under U.S. immigration law.

Immediate Relatives of U.S. Citizens Living in the U.S.

Parents, spouses, and unmarried children under the age of 21 (natural or adopted) of U.S. citizens are considered immediate relatives and do not have to wait to get a visa. If you are an immediate relative of a U.S. citizen and meet all of the green card eligibility requirements, you can file for a green card. If you are living inside of the United States, you may apply with Form I-485 (Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status) at the same time your sponsoring family member files Form I-130 (Petition for Alien Relative). This called concurrent filing (where you file all forms at the same time and to the same place) and is the preferred and most expedient way to file. However, if your sponsoring family member has previously filed Form I-130 and it has not been denied, you can still file your Form I-495 but must also attach a copy of Form I-797 (Notice of Action). Form I-797 is simply a receipt that shows your Form I-130 has been received or approved.

1. Filing Form I-130

This form is available on the USCIS website and must be completed by your sponsoring relative. In addition to completing the Form I-130, your sponsor must submit documents proving U.S. citizenship and documents proving the family relationship. Consult the USCIS website to determine what forms of proof are accepted. Any documents in a foreign language must be accompanied by a certified English translation.Click here to prepare your green card packet (including I-130) with SimpleCitizen.The filing fee for this form is $675. This fee cannot be waived. Consult the USCIS website for the correct address as it varies.

2. Filing Form I-485

You can find this form on the USCIS website. In addition to fully completing your Form I-485, you must provide the USCIS with supporting documentation. You must include evidence of your criminal history, if any, a copy of your foreign birth certificate or other birth records, a copy of the passport page from any nonimmigrant visa issued from a U.S. Embassy or consulate abroad within the past year, two passport-style color photos, and, if required, a medical examination report (Form I-693). Note that all documents in a foreign language must be accompanied by a certified English translation.The filing fee for Form I-485 is $1,440. If you are unable to pay this fee, a fee waiver might be available. Click here to prepare your green card packet (including I-485) with SimpleCitizen.

3. What Happens Next?

Within one to two weeks of submitting your paperwork, you will receive Form I-797 (Notice of Action), which includes a receipt number from the USCIS that will allow you to track the status of your application. To check your status, go to USCIS.gov, enter the thirteen digit receipt number, and click "Check Status." Next, sometime after your application is filed, you will be notified in writing where and when you must go for a biometric services appointment, which entails fingerprinting and possibly taking a photo or submitting your signature. If you do not go to this appointment, your application might be denied. Finally, you will be called in for an interview at your local USCIS office. It is possible your green card will be approved at this interview.Although the wait time for an interview can vary, for an immigrant spouse living in the U.S. after legal entry, the average wait is six months to a year. Within 30 days of being informed that your green card has been approved, you will receive a welcome notice from the USCIS. Then within 30 days of receiving the welcome notice, you will finally get your green card in the mail.

Non-Immediate Family Members

Parents, spouses, and unmarried children under the age of 21 (natural or adopted) of U.S. citizens are considered immediate relatives and do not have to wait to get a visa. However, other qualified relatives are placed in preference categories depending on their relationship to the sponsor. U.S. Immigration law limits both the number of visas given to each category every year and the total given to each country. There are 226,000 family-sponsored preference visas allocated each year, and each category is given a law-mandated percentage of that total. The wait to submit a visa application can be years or even decades.To start the visa process, the sponsoring family member must file a visa petition (document form I-130). The date this petition is properly filed becomes the applicant’s “Priority Date.” Each month, the State Department puts out the Visa Bulletin, listing which Priority Dates can submit their visa application for each preference category. The Visa Bulletin actually lists two dates- those priority dates that are Eligible for Final Action, which means their visas are ready to be issued, and priority dates that are Eligible for Filing, which is the date those people can file their application for a visa, often years before their visa is ready to be issued. The visa application is called an “Adjustment of Status” application. Many choose to file ahead of time because those with pending applications are eligible for temporary Employment Authorization Documents and Travel Permission while they wait for their visa.There are four family-sponsored preference categories. The priority dates eligible for final action and filing are determined by these preference categories, as well as the current country of citizenship (called the country of chargeability). There are some countries (mainland-born China, India, Mexico and the Philippines) that have a high number of applicants and therefore applicants from those countries may have longer wait times than others in their same preference category.

The First Family Preference (F1)

F1 is for unmarried sons and daughters of U.S. Citizens over the age of 21, and their children, if any. As of May 2017, the wait for applicants in this preference category, not from a high volume country, was almost seven years from their priority date. The waits for high volume countries vary. For example, the wait for Mexican applicants to be eligible for a visa is currently twelve years, whereas those from China and India are waiting seven years.

The Second Family Preference (F2)

F2 is divided into two sub-preference categories (F2A and F2B). F2A covers spouses and children (under 21) of permanent residents. As of May 2017, the wait for applicants in this preference category, not from a high volume country, was about two years from their priority date. F2B is for unmarried sons and daughters (over 21) of permanent residents. As of May 2017, the wait for applicants in this preference category, not from a high volume country, was almost seven years from their priority date.

The Third Family Preference (F3)

F3 covers married sons and daughters of U.S. citizens, their spouses and minor children. As of May 2017, the wait for applicants in this preference category, not from a high volume country, was about twelve years from their priority date.

The Fourth Family Preference (F4)

F4 covers brothers and sisters of adult U.S. citizens, their spouses and minor children. As of May 2017, the wait for applicants in this preference category, not from a high volume country, was around thirteen years from their priority date.

‍

Helpful links‍

SimpleCitizen's 2017 Green Card Application Guide
‍Find out if you are eligible to apply
‍Marriage Based Green Card Interview Questions

‍

Last Updated: June 6, 2025.

‍

Once you have filled out Form I-130 and gathered all supporting documentation, you’re ready to send it in to USCIS! But where you send the form is different depending on where you live and whether or not you are filing Form I-130 with any other forms.

‍

Please be aware that USCIS updates this information frequently, so be sure to check the USCIS Form I-130 Direct Filing Address page for the most up-to-date mailing information. If you are filing Form I-130 concurrently (at the same time) as Form I-485, please defer to the USCIS Form I-485 Direct Filing Address page instead.

‍

USCIS Phoenix Lockbox Facility

If you live in any of the following states or territories, and are ONLY filing Form I-130, you will send your Form to the USCIS Phoenix Lockbox facility.

• Alaska
• American Samoa
• Arizona
• California
• Colorado
• The Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
• Florida
• Guam
• Hawaii
• Idaho
• Kansas
• Montana
• Nebraska
• Nevada
• New Mexico
• North Dakota
• Oklahoma
• Oregon
• Puerto Rico
• South Dakota
• Texas
• Utah
• Virgin Islands
• Washington
• Wyoming

If you are sending the form through the U.S. Postal Service (USPS), please address the envelope:

USCIS

Attn: I-130

P.O. Box 21700

Phoenix, AZ 85036-1700

If you are sending the form through Express mail or through a commercial courier, please address the envelope:

USCIS

Attn: I-130 (Box 21700)

2108 E. Elliot Rd.

Tempe, AZ 85284-1806

‍

USCIS Elgin Lockbox Facility

If you are only filing Form I-130 and live in any of the following states or territories, you will send the form to the USCIS Elgin Lockbox facility:

• Alabama
• Arkansas
• Armed Forces Americas
• Armed Forces Europe
• Armed Forces Pacific
• Connecticut
• Delaware
• Georgia
• Illinois
• Indiana
• Iowa
• Kentucky
• Louisiana
• Maine
• Marshall Islands
• Maryland
• Massachusetts
• Michigan
• Micronesia
• Minnesota
• Mississippi
• Missouri
• New Hampshire
• New Jersey
• New York
• North Carolina
• Ohio
• Palau
• Pennsylvania
• Rhode Island
• South Carolina
• Tennessee
• Vermont
• Virginia
• Washington, D.C.
• West Virginia
• Wisconsin

If you are sending the form through the U.S. Postal Service (USPS), please address the envelope:

USCIS

Attn: I-130

P.O. Box 4053

Carol Stream, IL  60197-4053

If you are sending the form through Express mail or through a commercial courier, please address the envelope:

USCIS

Attn: I-130 (Box 4053)

2500 Westfield Drive

Elgin, IL 60124-7836

‍

USCIS Elgin Lockbox Facility (International)

You are only filing Form I-130, and you live outside the United States*

If you are sending the form through the U.S. Postal Service (USPS), please address the envelope:

USCIS

Attn: I-130

P.O. Box 4053

Carol Stream, IL  60197-4053

If you are sending the form through Express mail or through a commercial courier, please address the envelope:

USCIS

Attn: I-130 (Box 4053)

2500 Westfield Drive

Elgin, IL 60124-7836

‍

*You may request to file at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in certain limited circumstances. See the USCIS filing page for more info.

There is a difference between citizens and lawful permanent residents (meaning residents with green cards) when it comes to whom you may file Form I-130 for. If you are a United States citizen you may file Form I-130 for numerous relatives, including:

•  Your spouse
•  Your unmarried child under age 21
•  Your unmarried son or daughter age 21 or older
•  Your married son or daughter of any age
•  Your brother(s) or sister(s) if you are 21 or older; and
•  Your mother or father if you are 21 or older.

However, if you’re a lawful permanent resident you may only file the Form for:

•  Your spouse
•  Your unmarried child under age 21; and
•  Your unmarried son or daughter age 21 or older.

If you want to file for more than one relative, you must complete a separate Form for each individual. There is no limit to the number of Forms you can submit as long as each relative fits into the categories listed under “citizen” or “lawful permanent resident” above.[eligibility-quiz-green-card]

Last Updated: May 8, 2024.

‍

Filing Form I-130 costs $675 and it can be paid with a check or money order. No matter how you pay, the following two guidelines must be followed:

1. The payment must come from a bank or financial institution in the United States and be payable in U.S. dollars.
2. The payment must be made payable to: U.S. Department of Homeland Security. This must be spelled out and cannot be abbreviated.

Memo:

If you are paying by check, write the full name of the applicant in the memo line followed by the title of the form associated with the payment. For example, "Tom Smith, I-485".If you choose to pay by check, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security will use your account information on the check to electronically take the money from your account. Typically, the debit will take 24 hours and will show up on your regular account statement.Please note that you will not receive your original check back. Instead, it will be destroyed and the government will keep a copy of the check on file.

Updated: March 19, 2020

Once you have filled out all necessary fields on Form I-130 and answered each question to the best of your ability you must find and attach supporting documentation. The purpose of the documentation is to prove that you and your family member are related.

You can upload all your required supporting documents in your SimpleCitizen account. If you don't have digital copies of your documents you can take a picture of them with a mobile device.

The documents should be copies of the original documents and will differ depending on whom you are filing for.

A Spouse

When filing for your spouse, you must include:

• A copy of your marriage certificate;
• Proof that any marriages before your current marriage was legally ended;
• 2 passport-style color photos of you and your spouse. Each photo must be taken within 30 days of filing the petition, have a white background, be glossy, un-retouched, and measure 1 inch from your chin to the top of your hair;

In addition to these required documents, you must include proof of at least one of the following:

• Joint Assets and Co-Mingling of Funds
• Birth certificate(s) of any child(ren) born to you and your spouse;
• Letters of support completed by third parties confirming any of the bullet points listed above. Each Affidavit must include each person's full name, address, date and place of birth their relationship to you, and details of their knowledge of your relationship, include a valid form of ID for each letter of support; and
• Any additional documentation that shows proof of your marriage/relationship.

A Child

If you are the mother of the child, you must include a copy of their birth certificate that shows both your name and the name of your child.

If you are the father of a child, you must include their birth certificate that shows your name and your wife’s name and your marriage certificate.

If the child was born out of wedlock and you are the father, you must include copies of evidence of your relationship with your child before they reached the age of 21. Some examples of evidence include proof that you lived with the child, supported the child, or otherwise showed continued interest in the child’s welfare.

A Brother or Sister

When filing Form I-130 for a brother or sister, you must include:

•   A copy of your birth certificate;
•   A copy of your brother’s or sister’s birth certificate that indicates that you share at least one common parent.

If you share a common father but have different mothers, you must include marriage certificates of each marriage and documents showing that any previous marriages of both your fathers and mothers were ended legally.

A Mother

You must include a copy of your birth certificate showing both your name and your mother's name.

A Father

You must include your birth certificate that shows the names of both parents. You must also include your parents’ marriage certificate that shows your parents were married before you were born. If either your mother or father was married prior to their marriage to each other, you must include documents showing their marriages were legally ended.

Stepparent/Stepchild

If you are filing Form I-130 for a stepparent or stepchild, you must include a copy of the marriage certificate between the stepparent to the child’s natural parent to prove that the marriage happened before the child turned 18.

You must also include documents that show any previous marriages were legally ended and a copy of the stepchild’s birth certificate.

Adoptive Parent or Adopted Child

If you are related to your relative by adoption, you must include the adoption decree showing that the adoption happened before the child turned 16.

If you also adopted the sibling of an adopted child, you must include the adoption decree showing that the adoption happened before the child turned 18.

If either of the two instances above apply to you, you must also show that each child resided with you, the adoptive parent, for at least 2 years before or after adoption and was in legal custody of the child during this time.

Last Updated: February 5, 2020.

‍

Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, is used to either register for permanent legal residence in the United States or adjust to permanent resident status. Adjusting to permanent resident status simply means obtaining a green card (i.e. permanent legal residency) without having to return to your home country if you’re already in the United States.

While Form I-485 is a required step on your path to legal citizenship, it isn’t the only step. In fact, you will need other completed forms and evidence depending upon your unique situation. For example, you will need a completed Form I-130 if you are getting residency through a family member who is already a citizen or lawful permanent resident of the United States.

This Form is filed with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). While your family member is responsible for Form I-130 to establish a familiar connection that enables you to take the next step in the immigration process with Form I-485, you are responsible for the completion and filing of Form I-485.

What is Form I-130 Used For?

‍

Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, is used to establish a relationship between you, a citizen or lawful permanent resident (i.e. green card holder) of the United States, and a relative who wants to immigrate to America. This is the first step in a two-part immigration process for individuals looking to bring relatives into the United States.You will file the Form with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Unlike many immigration forms, you are responsible for completing and submitting the form rather than your relative him or herself.If approved, your relative doesn’t automatically become a lawful permanent resident of the United States and aren’t automatically able to live and work in the country.Instead, the Form’s approval confirms that you have a qualifying familial relationship that your relative can use to apply for permanent residence. Often, this second step is completed at a United States consulate in your relative’s country or through a separate process, should your relative already be in the United States.

There is a range of individuals who may file Form I-485 based on several unique situations:

Based on an Immigrant Petition

If your immigrant petition is approved and a visa number is immediately available or if you are filing Form I-485 with a special Petition that would make a visa number immediately available, you may file the Form.

Based on Being the Spouse or Child at the Time Another Adjustment Applicant Files Form I-485

You may file Form I-485 with the other applicant or anytime after it is approved if you are already in the United States. If you are outside of the United States, you must file Form I-824, Application for Action on an Approved Application or Petition, with the other applicant’s Form I-485 to file the Forms together.

Based on Being the Fiancé of a U.S. Citizen

You may file if you entered the United States as the K-1 fiancé of an existing U.S. citizen and married them within 90 days of entering the country. Likewise, if you had any K-2 child(ren) entering with you, s/he/they may also file for lawful permanent residency.

Based on Asylum Status

If you were granted asylum, you may file Form I-485 after you have been physically present in the United States for 1 year. You may only do so if you still qualify as an asylee or are the spouse or child of a refugee.

Based on Cuban Citizenship or Nationality‍

There are 2 situations where Cuban nationals may apply for lawful residency. In each situation, paroled means you were allowed to enter the U.S. without a visa or for humanitarian reasons:You are a native Cuban citizen, were admitted or paroled into the United States after January 1, 1959, and have been present in the United States for at least 1 year; orYou are the spouse or unmarried child of a Cuban citizen as described above, were admitted or paroled into the U.S. after January 1, 1959, and have been present in the United States for at least 1 year.

Based on Continuous Residency in the U.S. Since Before January 1, 1972

If you’ve been living in the U.S. since before January 1, 1972, you may apply for permanent residency.

Based on a Priority Date That is Not Current But is Valid

Priority dates determine when you are able to file the final stage of the green card process with Form I-485. If your priority date is not current but is considered valid under the Child Status Protection Act or you have a Western Hemisphere Priority Date, you may still file Form I-485.

Form I-485 also allows you to apply to change the date that your permanent residence began. If you were granted lawful permanent residence in the United States before November 6, 1966, are a native or citizen of Cuba, or are the spouse or unmarried child of an individual that meets either of these scenarios, you may change the date of your permanent residence. You are given the option to change the date to either your date of arrival in the U.S. or March 2, 1964, whichever is later.

Find out if you are eligible to apply for a green card:

Last Updated: February 5, 2020.

‍

Along with a fully completed and signed Form I-485, there is evidence that you must include to be considered for lawful permanent residency or to adjust your status.

You can upload all required documentation within your SimpleCitizen account:

Criminal History

What you must submit will vary depending upon your previous offense:

• Arrested and Detained With No Filed Charges – Include an original, official statement by the arresting agency or a court order confirming that no charges were filed.
• Arrested or Detained and Charges Were Filed or Were Filed Without an Arrest – Include an original or court-certified copy of the entire arrest record and/or disposition (i.e. the record of the court’s final decision of the criminal charge).
• Convicted or Placed in an Alternative Sentencing or Rehabilitative Program (i.e. Drug Treatment, Community Service, etc.) – Include an original or court-certified copy of the sentencing record for each incident and evidence that you completed your sentence. This evidence may include:
  • An original or certified copy of your probation or parole record; or
  • Evidence that you completed your alternative program.
• Vacated, Sealed, Expunged, Removed, or Set Aside Arrests/Convictions – Include an original or court-certified copy of the court order used to vacate, seal, expunge, remove, or set aside the arrest or conviction or an original statement from the court that there is no record of the arrest or conviction.

There is no need to submit evidence for traffic fines or incidents that didn’t involve an arrest as long as the fine was less than $500 and/or points on your driver’s license. However, you must submit evidence if the traffic incident was related to alcohol or drugs.

Birth Certificate

You must include a copy of your foreign birth certificate or other birth record with Form I-485.

Copy of Passport Page With Nonimmigrant Visa

If you have a nonimmigrant visa(s) from a U.S. Embassy or consulate that you received outside the United States within the past year, you must include photocopy(ies) of the page(s) with your Form.

Photos

You must include two identical color photographs of yourself taken within 30 days of your application with the Form.

Each photo must:

• Have a white to off-white background
• Be printed on thin, glossy paper
• Be unmounted and unretouched

You may also use passport photos that follow the three bullet points above and meet these additional criteria:

• Measure 2 inches by 2 inches
• Be a full face, frontal view where your head height measures 1 inch to 1 3/8 inches from the top of your hair to the bottom of your chin
• Bare head, unless headwear is required by your religious order

Biometrics

If you are between the ages of 14 and 79, fingerprints are required by USCIS biometrics services. You will submit your fingerprints once you have filed your application.

To do so, USCIS will contact you in writing to let you know where and when you must go to be fingerprinted. If you do not follow these instructions, your Form may not be approved.

Police Clearances

Police clearances are sometimes required for individuals seeking an adjustment of status as a member of a special class outlined in an I-485 supplementary form. You must read the instructions on the form to see if you need police clearances with your application.

Medical Examination

Some individuals must submit a medical examination via Form I-693, Report of Medical Examination and Vaccination Record:

• General – You must include Form I-693 with Form I-485, unless you are a refugee.
• Refugees – If you are applying for adjustment 1 year after being admitted to the U.S. as a refugee, you must only submit the vaccination portion of Form I-693 (pages 1, 4, and 6) with your application. You must submit the entire report only if you had a Class A condition included on your overseas medical exam.
• Fiancés – If you are a K-1 fiancé or K-2 dependent who received a medical examination when obtaining your nonimmigrant visa, you only need to submit the vaccination portion of Form I-693 with your application.
• Exempt – If you are applying to create a record as a lawful permanent resident under section 249 of the INA as someone who has resided in the U.S. since January 1, 1972, you do not need to submit a medical examination with your application.

Form G-325A (Biographic Information Sheet)

If you are between 14 and 79 years old, you must include Form G-325A with your application.

Affidavit of Support/Employment Letter

You must submit an Affidavit of Support (Form I-864) if you’re filing Form I-485 as the fiancé of a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident, through Form I-130 (relative petition), or Form I-140 (an employed-based visa petition).

You must include an employment letter with Form I-485 if you are using an employment-based visa petition to enter the U.S. This letter must be sent on your employer’s letterhead and confirm that the job is available and the salary you will be paid.

Eligibility

Depending on how you enter the United States, your eligibility evidence will differ:

• Immigrant Petition – Include a copy of the approval notice of your immigrant petition that shows a visa number is available to you. If you do not have this, you may include a complete relative, special immigrant juvenile, or special immigrant military petition that will make a visa number available to you.
• K-1 Fiancé – Include a copy of the fiancé petition approval notice, a copy of your marriage certificate, and Form I-94, the Arrival/Departure Document.
• Asylum – Include a copy of the letter or of Form I-94 showing the date you were granted asylum.
• Continuous Residence Since Before January 1, 1972 – Include copies of evidence showing you have been residing in the U.S. since before January 1, 1972.

Cuban Citizenship or Nationality

You must include evidence of your citizenship or nationality. Examples of acceptable evidence include copies of your passport, birth certificate, or other travel documents.

As a Spouse or Child of Another Adjustment Applicant or Permanent Resident Through Immigrant Visa Issuance

You should file your application with the other applicant and with:

• Evidence that the applicant’s application is currently pending or has been approved; or
• Evidence that your spouse or parent was granted permanent residence based on an immigrant visa.

If you are applying as a spouse, you must include a copy of your marriage certificate and documents showing that all previous marriages have been legally ended.

If you are applying as a child, you must attach a copy of your birth certificate. If the applicant isn’t your parent, you must submit evidence (including marriage certificates, legal endings to all existing marriages, and the adoption decree) to prove that you are the applicant’s legal child.

Indochinese Parolee

Along with all other evidence indicated above, you must include:

• Evidence that you are a citizen or native of Vietnam, Kampuchea (Cambodia), or Laos;
• Evidence that you’ve been paroled into the U.S. from Vietnam under the Orderly Departure Program (ODP), from a refugee camp in East Asia, or from a displaced persons camp administered by the United Nationals High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Thailand before October 1, 1997; and
• Evidence that you have physically been in the U.S. prior to and on October 1, 1997.

Evidence of parole may include:

• Parole authorization letter
• Transportation letter
• Arrival/Departure Record (Form I-94)

If you don’t have any of these records, you may need to request this information through the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). If you still cannot find your records, you may include an affidavit (sworn oath) with Form I-485 requesting that DHS search its files to locate any existing proof that you were paroled as part of the programs listed above.

Evidence of physical presence in the U.S. during the time period indicated above may include documents issued by a federal, state, or local authority, such as:

• Immigration records
• School records
• Military records
• State driver’s license or other identification card
• Utility bills
• Medical records
• Deeds
• Mortgages
• Contracts
• Insurance policies
• Receipts
• Any other evidence you believe proves your physical presence

Any evidence must be in your name and bear the signature, seal, or other official marks of an issuing authority (if from an official agency) and be dated no later than the required date.

‍