UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
IMMIGRATION AND NATURALIZATION SERVICE
Nebraska Service Center
P.O. Box 87485
Lincoln, Nebraska 98501-7485
EMPLOYMENT-BASED FORM I-485
GENERAL INFORMATION
Please mail employment-based Form I-485 (together with any concurrently filed Form I-131 for Advance Parole, Form I-765, Form I-601 or Form I-212) to the above letterhead address.
If you later wish to file Form I-131 for Advance Parole or Form I-765, ON THE BASIS OF A FORM I-485 FILED AND PENDING AT NSC, mail these also to the above letterhead address. However, if we have notified you that your Form I-485 has been relocated to a local INS office, you must then file Form I-131 for Advance Parole and Form I-765 at that local office.
A separate I-485 package should be prepared for the principal applicant and, if applicable, each dependent spouse and/or child.
Application packets should be ordered as indicated below, two-hole punched at the top and held together with "acco" fasteners.
If one check is submitted to pay for all applications, including the $25 fingerprint fee(s), the check should be stapled to the top left hand corner of the first form in the package; if a separate check is submitted for each application, the check should be stapled to the top left hand corner of each corresponding application.
The total fee remittance must be correct in order for NSC to accept the I-485 for filing. However, the Center has no preference as to whether one check is submitted to pay for multiple forms (e.g., any dependent I-485's, I-765's, I-131's, etc.), including the $25 fingerprint fee(s), or whether a separate check is submitted to pay for each form.
Applicants should be aware that when one check is submitted to pay for multiple forms, if the check amount is not exactly correct or if any form has inadvertently been left unsigned, all applications will be rejected.
In order for the Service to recognize that an applicant is represented by an attorney, a properly completed Form G-28 (Notice of Entry of Appearance as Attorney or Representative) must be filed. A separate Form G-28 should be included for each Form I-485, each Form I-131, etc. Each Form G-28 must be signed by both the applicant and the attorney.
All foreign language documents must be submitted with a certified English translation. The translator must certify that he/she is competent to perform the translation and that the translation is accurate. Note that translations submitted without a legible copy of the foreign language document are not sufficient.
The Form I-693 (Medical Examination of Alien Seeking Adjustment of Status), including the vaccination supplement, must be properly completed and signed by a designated civil surgeon in accordance with "Technical Instructions for Medical Examination of Aliens in the United States" (June, 1991 Centers for Disease Control, Public Health Service), or any subsequently issued instructions. If your local INS office provided you with a list of designated civil surgeons in your area, please submit a copy of that list.
Photograph envelopes should be stapled to the lower left corner of each corresponding application (i.e., 2 photos affixed to Form I-485, 2 photos to Form
I-131, if filed, etc.).
NSC will review expedite requests for Form I-485 if they involve a dependent child whose twenty-first birthday will occur within six months of filing the application AND the application is filed with at least 60 days until such birthdate. However, NSC cannot process such applications if filed within 60 days of the age-out birthdate.
Expedite requests should be presented to NSC in the normal manner. On the outside envelope write PLEASE EXPEDITE. On your cover letter, in which you explain the reason for your expedite request, write PLEASE EXPEDITE after the heading of the letter. Please highlight the words PLEASE EXPEDITE.
REQUESTED ORDER OF PACKET MATERIALS
1. Payment Check. The check should be stapled to top left corner of the G-28, if any, or the Form I-485 if no G-28 is submitted. If a separate check is submitted for each application (including Supplement A to Form I-485), each check should be fastened to the top left corner of the corresponding application.
2. Form G-28 Notice of Entry of Appearance as Attorney or Representative (if any). The G-28 must be properly completed and signed by BOTH the applicant and attorney. A separate G-28 should be included for each application filed.
3. Form I-485. Two photos for each individual application should be placed in a clear photograph envelope and attached to the lower left-hand corner of the first page of each application. The name of the applicant (and "A" number if known) should be written lightly in pencil on the back of each photograph.
4. Supplement A to Form I-485 (if any).
5. Any concurrently filed Form I-131 (Advance Parole), Form I-765, Form I-601, Form I-212. If required by instructions, two photos for each individual application should be placed in a clear photograph envelope and attached to the lower left-hand corner of the first page of the application. The name of the applicant (and "A number" if known) should be written lightly in pencil on the back of each photograph.
A copy of an identity document must be submitted for Form I-131 and Form I-765. This may be a copy of the applicant's passport identity pages, a copy of an expired Form I-688, or a state issued document such as a driver's license or school identity card. The document photo and printed information must be clear and recent enough for comparison with the application photographs and information.
6. Form G-325A Biographic information Sheet
7. Form I-693 Medical Examination of Alien Seeking Adjustment of Status, including Vaccination Supplement. The medical examination form, including the Supplement, must be properly completed and signed by the designated civil surgeon. The identity of the Physician must be legible in order to allow for confirmation of the physician's authorization to conduct the examination.
8. Evidence of valid nonimmigrant status. A legible photocopy of all available evidence of lawful admission and continued maintenance of status should be filed as initial evidence (i.e., photocopy of both sides of Form I-94, Form I-20 (if applicable), Form IAP-66 (if applicable, etc.).
A written summary or overview of the applicant's nonimmigrant history with references to specific documents is requested to assist the determination regarding eligibility to file.
A legible photocopy of all pages of the applicant's passport(s) is also requested.
9. IRS Form 9003 (in duplicate)
10. Photocopy of Form I-797 Approval Notice for the underlying employment based petition (Form I-140, Form I-526 or Form I-360 Religious Worker) . A copy of the underlying employment petition is requested.
11. Birth certificate or other record of birth. The birth certificate is required, unless it is established that a birth certificate is not available, in which case secondary evidence may be accepted. Short forms or extracts that do not establish the applicant's parentage are not acceptable.
12. Marriage certificate and evidence of termination of any/all previous marriages of applicant and/or dependent spouse (if applicable). A copy should be provided for the principal alien (if ever married). A copy should also be submitted with the spouse application and for each child application.
13. Current letter from the petitioner confirming that the terms of employment an specified in the underlying petition continue to exist.
14. Cover letter from applicant or representative summarizing the application and itemizing all documents submitted.