New York · est. 2013Saturday, September 5, 2026
Inside Immigration

Plain-language guides to US immigration, asylum and USCIS procedure.

Formularios · Status and documents

Adjustment of status inside the United States

Adjustment of status turns an approved or concurrently filed immigrant petition into a green card without leaving the country. It is the domestic alternative to a consular interview abroad. The application is Form I-485, normally filed with a medical exam, and it usually carries a work permit and advance parole application alongside it.

Tiempo habitual: 5.9 months for family-based and 5.8 months for employment-based cases in FY 2026, and 18.8 months for asylum-based cases.Tarifas: About $1,390 to $1,700 for a typical family case with a work permit, less for exempt categories, plus the civil surgeon's fee.

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Para quién es. People physically in the United States with an immigrant visa number available and an eligible basis - a family or employment petition, asylum or refugee status, the Cuban Adjustment Act, VAWA, SIJ, T or U status, or the diversity visa.

Los formularios, en orden

7 formularios
I-693I-485I-864I-601I-765I-131G-1256
  1. 1

    Confirm eligibility to adjust rather than consular process

    Quién
    The applicant
    Cuándo
    Before filing
    Tarifa
    $0

    Most people need a lawful entry. Immediate relatives of citizens are forgiven overstay but not an entry without inspection; 245(i) is the main exception.

  2. 2

    Get the immigration medical exam from a designated civil surgeon

    I-693

    Quién
    The applicant
    Cuándo
    Any time before the decision
    Tarifa
    The civil surgeon's own fee; $0 to USCIS

    Since December 2024 a properly signed I-693 does not expire.

  3. 3

    File Form I-485 with the medical, the affidavit of support, and any waiver

    I-485I-693I-864I-601

    Quién
    The applicant
    Cuándo
    When a visa number is available under the Visa Bulletin chart USCIS is using that month
    Tarifa
    $1,440 paper or $1,390 online; $950 or $900 for a child under 14 filing with a parent; $0 for refugees, SIJs, T and U adjustments, VAWA self-petitioners and several other categories

    Check whether USCIS is accepting filings under the Final Action Dates or Dates for Filing chart that month.

  4. 4

    File for a work permit and travel document at the same time

    I-765I-131

    Quién
    The applicant
    Cuándo
    Concurrently with the I-485
    Tarifa
    $260 for the I-765 if the I-485 was filed with a fee on or after April 1, 2024; $630 or $580 for advance parole

    An I-485 filed between July 30, 2007 and March 31, 2024 with the fee paid gets a free EAD.

  5. 5

    Attend biometrics and the interview

    G-1256

    Quién
    The applicant, and the petitioning spouse in marriage cases
    Cuándo
    Varies by field office
    Tarifa
    $0

    Bring an interpreter and Form G-1256 if you need one. Do not sign it in advance.

  6. 6

    Receive the decision

    Quién
    USCIS
    Cuándo
    5.9 months family-based and 5.8 months employment-based national medians in FY 2026
    Tarifa
    $0

    A denial can now be followed by a notice to appear in immigration court.

Dónde suele fallar

  • Travelling without advance parole abandons the application, with narrow exceptions for people in H and L status.
  • Filing before a visa number is available gets the case rejected; the Visa Bulletin chart USCIS accepts changes monthly.
  • Working without authorisation can bar adjustment in employment cases, though immediate relatives of citizens are forgiven.
  • A denial now carries a real risk of removal proceedings.
  • Public charge and sponsor income scrutiny has tightened.

Qué cambió en 2025 y 2026

  • USCIS has issued notices to appear more readily after I-485 denials since 2025.
  • Automatic EAD extensions on renewal ended in 2025, so a pending adjustment applicant must renew early.
  • New 08/24/26 affidavit of support editions are in use.

Trámites relacionados

Fuentes: uscis.gov · uscis.gov · uscis.gov · uscis.gov · egov.uscis.gov · uscis.gov