USCIS now allows some green card applicants to file Form I-485 online

USCIS now lets some people seeking permanent residence in the United States file Form I-485 online, but the option does not cover every case. Eligibility depends on who submits the application and which underlying immigration petition supports it.

Authorized lawyers and representatives can file the application online at the same time as Form I-130 or Form I-140. Foreign workers who file their own Form I-140 petition can also submit both forms concurrently.

Applicants filing Form I-485 on their own who are not self-petitioners under Form I-140 follow a different process. Their sponsor must first submit the I-130 or I-140 from the sponsor’s USCIS account. Once USCIS confirms receipt, the applicant may file Form I-485 online if all other requirements are met.

The online system accepts certain supporting forms as PDF files. People with a pending I-485 whose receipt number begins with IOE can later submit Supplements A and J online as separate filings.

Form I-693 requires particular care. If it must accompany a digital I-485, the applicant must open the envelope supplied by the certified professional, scan the form and upload it. The original documents and envelope should be kept because USCIS may request them as evidence or inspect the originals at an interview. Applicants seeking a fee exemption for a Form I-765 work permit under category (c)(9) should file that application by mail, since the online system may charge a fee that USCIS will not refund. Before filing, applicants must also check visa availability and the monthly bulletin.