Adjustment of Status Interview Checklist: Documents, IDs, and Evidence

Your adjustment of status interview checklist should cover seven things: government-issued ID, proof of lawful entry, your I-693 medical exam, the Form I-864 Affidavit of Support with the sponsor’s financial records, evidence supporting your immigrant category, certified English translations of any foreign-language documents, and a full set of photocopies. Bring the originals of everything you submitted with your Form I-485, plus your interview appointment notice. Missing a single item can trigger a Request for Evidence and add months to your wait, so the sections below walk through each category the way the officer will work through your file.

Identification

Bring a valid, unexpired government-issued photo ID. A current foreign passport is the strongest choice because, if your case is approved on the spot, the officer can stamp it with a temporary I-551 endorsement that proves permanent residence until your physical green card arrives. A state driver’s license, state ID card, or military ID also works for identification, but none of those can receive the I-551 stamp.

An expired passport will not be accepted as valid ID at a USCIS field office, even if you used it to document your original entry when filing the I-485. Renew it before your interview date. Since May 2025, most federal facilities require adults to present either a REAL ID-compliant state ID (marked with a star) or a passport to enter the building.¹ A foreign passport satisfies this requirement. If you plan to use a state-issued driver’s license, confirm it carries the REAL ID star or you may not get past the front door.

If you hold an Employment Authorization Document or a combo card that also serves as Advance Parole, bring it. Those documents show the officer your current work and travel authorization while the I-485 has been pending.

Proof of Lawful Entry and Immigration History

Adjustment of status under INA Section 245(a) is available to individuals who were “inspected and admitted or paroled” into the United States.² If you cannot prove a lawful entry, the officer must deny your application.³

Your Form I-94, Arrival/Departure Record, is the primary proof of lawful admission. If you entered after April 2013 at an air or sea port, your I-94 is electronic and can be downloaded from the CBP website at i94.cbp.dhs.gov.⁴ Print a copy and bring it. If your I-94 contains errors or is missing entirely, contact CBP through their info center before your interview to request a correction. Showing up without proof of lawful entry is a problem that cannot be talked through.

Also bring your passport pages showing entry stamps and prior visas, together with every Form I-797, Notice of Action, from past petitions or status changes: H-1B approvals, F-1 extensions, change-of-status grants, and similar records. Those notices let the officer trace your immigration history without gaps.⁵

Medical Exam Documentation

Every adjustment applicant must submit a completed Form I-693, signed by a USCIS-designated civil surgeon, to show they are not inadmissible on health-related grounds. As of December 2024, USCIS requires you to mail the completed Form I-693 in its sealed envelope along with your Form I-485 at the time of filing. If you submit the I-485 without it, USCIS may reject your application.⁶

Even so, bring a copy of your I-693 to the interview. If the officer has questions about your medical results, or if USCIS previously issued a Request for Evidence about the form, having a copy on hand prevents delays. Do not open the sealed envelope yourself, and do not accept an unsealed form from the civil surgeon. USCIS will return any form that arrives unsealed or tampered with.⁶

Check the civil surgeon’s signature date before you leave the appointment. The form has a limited validity window, and if too much time passes between signature and USCIS adjudication, you may need a new exam. The civil surgeon must verify that you have received vaccinations against mumps, measles, and rubella; polio; tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis; Haemophilus influenzae type B; hepatitis B; and any additional vaccines recommended by the Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices that meet CDC criteria for immigration purposes.⁷

Affidavit of Support and Sponsor Financial Records

This is the section that catches people off guard. If you are adjusting through a family-based petition, whether as an immediate relative or through a preference category, your petitioning sponsor is legally required to file Form I-864, Affidavit of Support. Without a sufficient I-864, you are inadmissible under the public charge ground and the officer will not approve your case.⁸ Some employment-based categories also require one.

The sponsor must demonstrate household income at or above 125% of the federal poverty guidelines. For 2026 (effective March 1), the thresholds for the 48 contiguous states are $27,050 for a household of 2, $34,150 for a household of 3, $41,250 for a household of 4, $48,350 for a household of 5, and $55,450 for a household of 6. Each additional household member adds $7,100. Alaska and Hawaii have higher thresholds.⁹

The sponsor should bring the following to the interview, even if copies were mailed with the original filing:

An IRS transcript or photocopy of the most recent year’s federal tax return. If submitting a photocopy rather than a transcript, include every W-2 and 1099 attached to that return.
Recent pay stubs covering the last six months, or a letter from the employer showing salary and contact information.
If the sponsor’s income alone falls short, documentation of assets: bank statements, property appraisals with proof of ownership, and documentation of any liens.

If the sponsor still cannot meet the threshold, a joint sponsor who is a U.S. citizen or permanent resident may file a separate I-864. That joint sponsor must also bring their own full set of financial records to the interview.¹⁰

Evidence for Your Immigrant Category

The documents you need beyond the basics depend on how you qualified for a green card. The officer’s job is to confirm that the underlying basis for your petition is still valid.

Marriage-Based Cases

If you are adjusting through marriage to a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, the officer will focus on whether your marriage is genuine.¹¹ Bring evidence of a shared life: joint bank or credit card statements, a lease or mortgage in both names, utility bills, insurance policies naming each other as beneficiaries, and jointly filed tax returns. Photographs together at different times and places add context, but financial commingling carries more weight than a photo album. If you have children together, bring their birth certificates. Both spouses attend the interview together.

Employment-Based Cases

The officer needs to confirm that the job offer underlying your petition still exists. Bring an updated employment verification letter on company letterhead stating your job title, salary, start date (or anticipated start date), and that the position is permanent and full-time. Recent pay stubs from the employer add tangible proof if you are already working in the role. Bring the Form I-797 approval notice for your I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Workers, and any labor certification (PERM) documentation if your category required it.

Family Preference, Diversity Visa, and Other Bases

Bring the Form I-797 approval notice for the underlying petition (typically an I-130 or I-140) along with any supporting documents specific to your category.⁵ Those notices are the legal link between you and the petition that made you eligible for a green card.

Translations, Originals, and Photocopies

Any document in a language other than English must be accompanied by a complete English translation. The translation needs a signed certification from the translator confirming the translation is accurate and that the translator is competent in both languages.¹² The translator does not need to be a professional, but the certification must include their printed name, signature, and contact information. Staple each translation directly to its corresponding original.

Bring the originals of every document you submitted with your I-485: birth certificates, marriage certificates, financial records, and government notices. The officer may want to compare your originals against the copies already in USCIS’s file. Bring a full set of photocopies for the officer to keep. Organizing everything in a labeled binder with tabs makes retrieval faster.

If You Need an Interpreter

If you are not comfortable conducting the interview in English, you must bring your own interpreter. USCIS does not provide interpreters for adjustment of status interviews. The interpreter and applicant both sign Form G-1256, Declaration for Interpreted USCIS Interview, in front of the officer at the start of the meeting. The form cannot be pre-signed.¹³

The officer has authority to refuse a particular interpreter, so choose someone fluent in both English and your language, not a minor, and ideally not a close family member involved in your case. By signing the form, you also acknowledge that the interpreter will hear confidential details about your application.¹³

If You Are Bringing an Attorney

You have the right to bring an attorney or accredited representative to the interview. If your representative was not already on file with USCIS, file Form G-28, Notice of Entry of Appearance as Attorney or Accredited Representative, before or at the time of the interview so the officer recognizes them.¹⁴ The attorney can advise you during the interview but generally cannot answer questions on your behalf. The officer wants to hear from you directly.

Quick-Reference Checklist

Bring all of the following to your interview appointment:

Valid, unexpired passport (preferred) or REAL ID-compliant state ID
Any current EAD or combo card
Printed Form I-94 and passport pages showing entry stamps and visas
All Form I-797 approval notices for prior petitions or status changes
A copy of your Form I-693 (the original sealed form should have gone in with your I-485)
Form I-864 with the sponsor’s most recent federal tax return or IRS transcript, W-2s, and six months of pay stubs; joint sponsor’s records if applicable
I-797 approval notice for your underlying I-130 or I-140
Category-specific evidence: joint financial records, photos, and children’s birth certificates for marriage cases; a current employment verification letter for employment cases
Originals of birth and marriage certificates with certified English translations if applicable
Your interview appointment notice
A complete duplicate set of photocopies for the officer to keep

Every case carries its own wrinkles. If you have prior arrests, immigration violations, or extended gaps in your status history, bring court dispositions, explanatory evidence, and any documents showing the issue was resolved. Officers expect problems to surface. What they do not tolerate is being surprised by something you should have disclosed.

1
U.S. Department of Homeland Security. ID Requirements for Federal Facilities
2
Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 8 USC 1255 – Adjustment of Status of Nonimmigrant to That of Person Admitted for Permanent Residence
3
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. USCIS Policy Manual Volume 7 Part B Chapter 2 – Eligibility Requirements
4
I94 – Official Website. I-94/I-95 Website Travel Record for U.S. Visitors
5
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Form I-797 Types and Functions
6
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. I-693, Report of Immigration Medical Examination and Vaccination Record
7
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Vaccination Requirements
8
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Public Charge Inadmissibility Policy Memorandum
9
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. I-864P, HHS Poverty Guidelines for Affidavit of Support
10
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Instructions for Form I-864, Affidavit of Support Under Section 213A of the INA
11
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. USCIS Policy Manual Volume 6 Part B Chapter 6 – Spouses
12
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Checklist of Required Initial Evidence for Form I-485
13
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. G-1256, Declaration for Interpreted USCIS Interview
14
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Notice of Entry of Appearance as Attorney or Accredited Representative