How to Apply for US Residency: Eligibility, Filing, and Interview

To apply for US residency, you first need to qualify under a category set by federal immigration law — most commonly through a family member, an employer, humanitarian protection, or the diversity visa lottery — and then file the correct petition and application forms with US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) or, if you’re abroad, work through a US embassy or consulate. Most applicants should plan for roughly 12 to 20 months from filing to a decision. The steps below walk through the adjustment of status path used by people already inside the United States, with notes on how consular processing differs.

Figure Out Which Path Applies to You

Where you physically are when you apply determines the track. If you’re already in the United States with lawful status (or were paroled in), you can file Form I-485 to adjust your status to permanent resident without leaving the country. Federal law requires that you were inspected and admitted or paroled, that you’re eligible for an immigrant visa, and that a visa number is immediately available when you file.¹

If you’re living outside the United States, or you’re inside but can’t maintain valid status while waiting, you go through consular processing instead. Your US-based sponsor still files the underlying petition with USCIS, but once approved, the case transfers to the Department of State. You complete the immigrant visa application, attend an interview at a US embassy or consulate, and receive your green card after entering the country with your immigrant visa.

Confirm Your Eligibility Category

You can only apply if you fit into a category the law recognizes. A rejected filing fee isn’t refunded, so getting this right before you spend money matters.

Family Sponsorship

Family is the most common route and splits into two tiers. “Immediate relatives” of US citizens — spouses, unmarried children under 21, and parents of citizens who are at least 21 — get unlimited visa numbers with no annual cap, which means shorter waits.² Everyone else falls into the family preference system, which covers married children of citizens, siblings of adult citizens, and spouses and children of green card holders. Preference categories are capped, and depending on your category and country of birth, the wait can run from a few years to more than two decades.

Employment

Employment-based green cards are divided into five preference levels. The first three cover workers with extraordinary ability, advanced degrees, or skilled positions where no qualified US worker is available. Most require a US employer to sponsor you and, in many cases, a labor certification from the Department of Labor before USCIS will accept the petition. The EB-5 investor category provides a path for individuals who make a substantial investment in a US business that creates at least 10 full-time jobs.³

Humanitarian and the Diversity Lottery

Refugees can file for residency one year after arriving in the United States. Asylees become eligible one year after their asylum is granted, regardless of how they originally entered the country.⁴ Separately, the Diversity Visa Lottery offers about 55,000 green cards annually to people from countries with historically low immigration to the United States; winners are picked randomly and must meet basic education or work experience requirements.

Whichever category applies, check the Department of State’s monthly Visa Bulletin before filing. It tells you whether a visa number is currently available for your priority date, which is the gating question for adjustment of status.⁵

File the Petition and Application

The central form for adjusting inside the United States is Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status.⁶ You don’t file it alone. An underlying petition must come first or be filed at the same time: Form I-130 (Petition for Alien Relative) for family-based cases or Form I-140 (Immigrant Petition for Alien Workers) for employment-based cases.⁷ Immediate relatives of US citizens can file both together, since a visa number is always available.

The I-485 asks for detailed biographical information, residential history, employment history, and travel records going back five years. Every name must match your identity documents exactly. Write “N/A” for questions that don’t apply rather than leaving them blank, so the officer knows nothing was skipped by accident. Typed responses are recommended, but black or dark blue ink is acceptable.⁸

Supporting documents typically include a government-issued birth certificate, a copy of your passport, and any civil records relevant to your case, such as marriage certificates, divorce decrees, or adoption papers. Foreign-language documents must be accompanied by a certified English translation, with the translator certifying in writing that the translation is complete and accurate and that they’re competent to translate between the languages.

Complete the Medical Exam

Nearly every adjustment applicant must submit Form I-693, Report of Immigration Medical Examination and Vaccination Record, to show they aren’t inadmissible on health grounds.⁹ Only a USCIS-designated civil surgeon can perform the exam, and the USCIS “Find a Doctor” tool lists them. The exam covers a physical, a vaccination review, and screening for certain communicable diseases. Bring your immunization records. Fees aren’t regulated by USCIS and commonly run from around $150 to $300 or more depending on which vaccinations you need.

One useful change: any Form I-693 signed by a civil surgeon on or after November 1, 2023, does not expire. Forms signed before that date remain valid for two years from the signature.¹⁰ That means you can complete the exam well before filing without worrying about it going stale.

Prepare the Affidavit of Support

Most family-based applicants and some employment-based applicants must file Form I-864, Affidavit of Support.¹¹ This exists because federal law makes anyone “likely to become a public charge” inadmissible.¹² The sponsor — usually the petitioning family member or employer — signs a legally binding contract with the US government to financially support the applicant, and must demonstrate household income at or above 125% of the federal poverty guidelines for their household size. If the sponsor’s income falls short, a joint sponsor can co-sign. The affidavit is submitted with the sponsor’s most recent federal tax return, W-2s, and proof of current employment or assets.

Pay the Fees and Submit the Package

Filing fees for the I-485 vary by applicant age and category, so use the USCIS Fee Calculator to confirm the exact amount before submitting anything. An incorrect payment will get the whole package rejected.¹³ Limited fee waivers exist for applicants exempt from the public charge ground who can show inability to pay, though recent legislation has narrowed waiver eligibility for certain benefit requests.¹⁴

USCIS no longer accepts personal checks, money orders, or cashier’s checks for paper-filed forms unless a specific exemption applies. When mailing, pay with a credit, debit, or prepaid card by including Form G-1450, or pay directly from a US bank account using Form G-1650.¹⁵

USCIS now offers online filing for the I-485 in certain employment-based categories, which lets you pay electronically, upload documents, and track your case through a USCIS account.¹⁶ If you’re filing on paper, the package goes to a USCIS Lockbox facility at an address that depends on your category and where you live. Ship it with a trackable delivery service so you have proof of arrival.

What Happens After You File

Receipt and Tracking

USCIS mails a Form I-797C, Notice of Action, with a unique receipt number after receiving your package.¹⁷ The receipt confirms USCIS has the application; it doesn’t mean anything has been approved. Use the number to check your case status online.

Work and Travel While You Wait

Filing the I-485 by itself doesn’t authorize work or international travel. To work, file Form I-765 for an Employment Authorization Document.¹⁸ To travel abroad, file Form I-131 for an advance parole document. Submitting both alongside the I-485 lets USCIS issue a single combo card covering work and travel.¹⁹

One warning worth taking seriously: if you leave the country while your I-485 is pending without first getting advance parole, USCIS will generally treat the application as abandoned.²⁰ The entire case gets thrown out and you’d have to start over. File for advance parole before any international trip, even a short one.

Processing Times

As of 2026, most I-485 applications take roughly 8 to 20 months depending on the category and the field office handling your case. Family-based cases at the National Benefits Center have been averaging 8 to 16 months; employment-based cases run closer to 10 to 18 months. A Request for Evidence (an RFE for additional documentation) can add several months. Current processing times for each category and service center are posted on the USCIS website.

Biometrics and Interview

Within a few weeks of the receipt notice, USCIS schedules a biometrics appointment at a local Application Support Center. Bring the appointment notice and valid photo ID. USCIS collects fingerprints, a photograph, and a digital signature, which are cross-referenced against law enforcement databases for identity verification and criminal history checks.²¹

Once background checks clear, USCIS schedules an in-person interview at your local field office. Some employment-based categories may have the interview waived, but most family-based cases require one. The officer reviews the entire file, verifies what you submitted, and asks about family history, employment, travel, and the basis for the petition. Bring originals of every document previously submitted as a copy. For marriage-based cases, expect pointed questions aimed at confirming the relationship is genuine.

The Decision

USCIS mails the official decision after the interview. If approved, the physical green card is produced and mailed to the address on file, usually within a few weeks. A standard green card is valid for 10 years; you’ll file Form I-90 to renew it later.

If the application is denied, the decision letter explains the reasons. You generally cannot appeal an I-485 denial, but you can file Form I-290B to request a motion to reopen (with new evidence) or a motion to reconsider (arguing a legal error). The I-290B is due within 30 days of the decision, or 33 days if the decision was mailed.²² Missing that window effectively closes the case.

Conditional Residency if You Got the Card Through a Recent Marriage

If your green card came through marriage to a US citizen or permanent resident, and the marriage was less than two years old when residency was granted, you receive a conditional green card valid for only two years instead of ten. To convert it to a permanent card, you and your spouse jointly file Form I-751, Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence, during the 90-day window immediately before the conditional card expires. Filing before that window opens can result in rejection.²³ Evidence should show the marriage is genuine: joint bank statements, a shared lease or mortgage, insurance policies, and similar proof of a shared life.

If you’ve divorced, been widowed, or experienced abuse, you can file the I-751 on your own with a waiver of the joint filing requirement, and you may file at any time before your conditional status expires rather than waiting for the 90-day window. Failing to file the I-751 at all means you automatically lose permanent resident status when the two-year card expires and become removable from the United States.²⁴

Keeping Your Green Card After You Get It

Permanent residents have ongoing obligations, and ignoring them can cost you your status.

Report Address Changes

Every time you move, report the new address to USCIS within 10 days using Form AR-11 or your online USCIS account.²⁵ Failure to do so is technically a misdemeanor under federal law, and it can create problems if USCIS mails important notices to an outdated address.

Watch Extended Trips Abroad

A green card doesn’t disappear the moment you fly out of the country, but long absences raise questions. Being outside the United States for more than 180 consecutive days may prompt Customs and Border Protection to question whether you’ve abandoned residency when you return. Absences of more than a year create a legal presumption of abandonment.²⁶ If you know you’ll be abroad for a long stretch, apply for a reentry permit on Form I-131 before you leave. A reentry permit is valid for up to two years and removes the absence length as a factor in any abandonment determination, provided you return before it expires.²⁷

Selective Service if It Applies

Male permanent residents between 18 and 25 must register with the Selective Service System within 30 days of entering the country or within 30 days of turning 18, whichever comes later.²⁸ Failing to register can disqualify you from naturalizing as a US citizen later.

Renew Before the Card Expires

A standard green card expires after 10 years. Expiration doesn’t mean you’ve lost status, but an expired card makes it hard to prove work authorization or reenter the country after travel. File Form I-90 to renew before it lapses. Conditional two-year cards follow the separate I-751 process described above.

1
Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 8 USC 1255 – Adjustment of Status of Nonimmigrant to That of Person Admitted for Permanent Residence
2
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Green Card for Immediate Relatives of U.S. Citizen
3
Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 8 USC 1153 – Allocation of Immigrant Visas
4
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Asylum
5
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Adjustment of Status Filing Charts from the Visa Bulletin
6
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status
7
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Form I-485 Instructions
8
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Five Steps to File at the USCIS Lockbox – Section: Completing the Form
9
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. I-693, Report of Immigration Medical Examination and Vaccination Record
10
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. USCIS Announces New Guidance on Form I-693 Validity Period
11
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. I-864, Affidavit of Support Under Section 213A of the INA
12
Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 8 USC 1182 – Inadmissible Aliens
13
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Calculate Your Fees
14
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. USCIS Policy Manual Volume 1 Part B Chapter 4 – Fee Waivers and Fee Exemptions
15
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Filing Fees
16
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Forms Available to File Online
17
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Form I-797C, Notice of Action
18
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. I-765, Application for Employment Authorization
19
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. USCIS to Issue Employment Authorization and Advance Parole Card for Adjustment of Status Applicants
20
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. While Your Green Card Application Is Pending with USCIS
21
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. USCIS Policy Manual Volume 1 Part C Chapter 2 – Biometrics Collection – Section: Biometric Services Appointments
22
Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs. Instructions for Form I-290B, Notice of Appeal or Motion
23
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. I-751, Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence
24
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Instructions for Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence
25
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. AR-11, Alien’s Change of Address Card
26
U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Documents Needed for Lawful Permanent Residents/Green Card Holders
27
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. I-131, Application for Travel Documents, Parole Documents, and Arrival/Departure Records
28
Selective Service System. Who Needs to Register