What is adjustment of status?
Adjustment of status means a process of getting a green card without coming back to the home country for a completion of visa issues. In other words, if you are present in the United States, you can apply for a status of lawful permanent resident and get a green card. To do this, you have to use Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, known as Form I-485.
There are different ways to adjust status to a lawful permanent resident, provided by the immigration law and some federal laws. Variable requirements for adjustment of status depend on immigrant category you belong to. Each category has its own criteria. For example, if you are a family member, employee, K-1 visa holder, refugee, parolee from Poland or Hungary, Panama Canal Zone employee or physician, or certain U.S. armed forces member, you must meet those criteria and document them upon Form I-485 submission. Overseas applicants are not eligible to submit Form I-485 and must undergo a “consular processing”. If you live abroad and have an immigrant petition that was approved, you need to apply for an immigrant visa via U.S. consulate in your country.
Related
Form I-485 | Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status
/form/form-i-485-or-application-to-register-permanent-residence-or-adjust-status/amp/
How do I adjust status if I have a K-1 fiancé visa?
/faq/how-do-i-adjust-status-if-i-have-a-k-1-fiance-visa/amp/
How to Navigate the Adjustment of Status Process with Form I-485
/faq/how-to-navigate-the-adjustment-of-status-process-with-form-i-485/amp/
Who can file Form I-485 to adjust status?
/faq/who-can-file-form-i-485-to-adjust-status/amp/
When can I file my I-485 adjustment of status packet?
/faq/when-can-i-file-my-i-485-adjustment-of-status-packet/amp/
Identifying the Specifics of Your Immigrant Visa Application or Adjustment of Status
/blog/identifying-the-specifics-of-your-immigrant-visa-application-or-adjustment-of-sta/amp/
Recent posts
Form I-9 Update for August 2026: Which Version Employers Must Use Now
A practical August 2026 update for employers on the correct Form I-9 edition, where to check the expiration date, and how to update an onboarding workflow without confusing new hires or existing records.
August 2026 Visa Bulletin: EB-2 India Unavailable, Filing Charts, and DV-2026 Deadlines
A plain-English guide to the August 2026 Visa Bulletin, with the employment-based, family-based, and Diversity Visa details applicants should check before acting.
How to Change Your Address With USCIS After Moving: E-COA, AR-11, and Pending Cases
A practical, official-source guide to reporting a move to USCIS, including pending cases, sponsors, receipt numbers, and situations requiring special instructions.
July 2026 Visa Bulletin: EB-2 India Unavailable and What Applicants Should Do
The July 2026 Visa Bulletin brings major employment-based green card changes, including EB-2 India becoming unavailable for the rest of FY 2026, EB-1 India retrogression, and EB-5 unreserved India unavailability.
Form I-20 and I-901 SEVIS Fee Before the F-1 Visa Interview
A pre-interview guide for F-1 students covering Form I-20 review, SEVIS fee timing, payment basics, and the documents students commonly prepare before the visa interview.
OPT vs. CPT vs. STEM OPT: Differences, Rules, and How to Choose
A practical comparison guide for F-1 students deciding between CPT, OPT, and STEM OPT, with official rule-based distinctions and common filing pitfalls.