Supplement A to Form I-485, Adjustment of Status Under Section 245(i)

Instructions for Supplement A to Form I-485,
Adjustment of Status Under Section 245(i)
Department of Homeland Security
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

USCIS
Form I-485

OMB No. 1615-0023
Expires 02/28/2026

If you are filing Supplement A to Form I-485, Adjustment of Status Under Section 245(i) (Supplement A), together
with Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, in order to apply for lawful permanent
residence under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) section 245(i), you must read these Supplement A Instructions
and the Form I-485 Instructions. In addition, carefully review the Additional Instructions section in the Form I-485
Instructions for information that relates to your family-based, employment-based, special immigrant, or Diversity Visa
immigrant category.

DRAFT
Not for
Production
07/02/2024

What Is the Purpose of Supplement A?

If you are disqualified from adjusting status under INA section 245(a), you may be eligible to adjust status under INA
section 245(i). For more information on who may be disqualified from adjusting under INA section 245(a), see the Bars
to Adjustment and Grounds of Inadmissibility section below.
You should use Supplement A if you seek to adjust status under INA section 245(i).

You cannot adjust status based on filing Supplement A alone. You must also file Form I-485 and be eligible for a visa
under a family-based, employment-based, special immigrant, or Diversity Visa immigrant category. Supplement A and
Form I-485 are used to determine whether you qualify for INA section 245(i) adjustment.

Who May File to Adjust Status Under INA Section 245(i) Using Supplement A?

Use Supplement A if you are applying to adjust status under INA section 245(i). You may file Supplement A when:
1. You are filing your Form I-485 at the same time; or

2. You previously filed your Form I-485 and it remains pending.
You may file Supplement A only if:

1. ONE of the following applies to you:
A. You are or were the principal beneficiary of an immigrant petition or application for permanent labor
certification properly filed on or before January 14, 1998, which was approvable when filed;
B. You are or were the principal beneficiary of an immigrant petition or application for permanent labor
certification properly filed on or after January 15, 1998, but on or before April 30, 2001, which was approvable
when filed and you were physically present in the United States on December 21, 2000;
C. You are or were the derivative beneficiary of an immigrant petition or application for permanent labor
certification properly filed on or before January 14, 1998, which was approvable when filed;
D. You are or were the derivative beneficiary of an immigrant petition or application for permanent labor
certification properly filed on or after January 15, 1998, but on or before April 30, 2001, which was approvable
when filed and the principal beneficiary was physically present in the United States on December 21, 2000; or
E. You are currently the spouse or child (unmarried and under 21 years of age) eligible to accompany or followto-join a principal or derivative beneficiary described in Items A. - D. above.
NOTE: “Properly filed” and “approvable when filed” are explained in the What Evidence Must You Submit to
Establish Your Eligibility for Adjustment of Status under INA Section 245(i) section of these Instructions.
Form I-485 Supplement A Instructions 04/01/24

Page 1 of 9

AND
2. ALL of the following apply to you:
A. You are physically present in the United States;
B. You are eligible to receive an immigrant visa because you are the current beneficiary of an immigrant petition or
you were selected for a Diversity Visa for the current fiscal year (or because you are the spouse or child described
in Item 1.E. above);
C. An immigrant visa is immediately available to you at the time you file your application;
NOTE: Visit the Visa Availability and Priority Dates website at https://www.uscis.gov/green-card/green-cardprocesses-and-procedures/visa-availability-priority-dates/adjustment-of-status-filing-charts-from-the-visabulletin to determine whether an immigrant visa is immediately available.

DRAFT
Not for
Production
07/02/2024

D. You are admissible to the United States for lawful permanent residence or eligible for a waiver of inadmissibility
or other form of relief; and
E. You are paying the required filing fee as described in Form G-1055, available at www.uscis.gov/g-1055.

Current Family Member of Principal Applicant

If you qualify to file under INA section 245(i) because you are the current spouse or child (unmarried and under 21 years
of age) who is eligible to accompany or follow-to-join a principal applicant for adjustment of status under INA section
245(i), you must file Form I-485:
1. At the same time as the principal applicant files Form I-485;

2. After the principal applicant filed a Form I-485 that remains pending a final decision by U.S. Citizenship and
Immigration Services (USCIS); or
3. After the principal applicant was granted lawful permanent residence under INA section 245(i) (as long as the
principal applicant is still currently a lawful permanent resident) and at the time of that approval, you were the
principal applicant’s spouse or child.

Bars to Adjustment and Grounds of Inadmissibility
Bars to Adjustment

In general, you are not eligible for adjustment of status based on INA section 245(a) if any of the adjustment bars apply
to you. See INA section 245(a) and (c) for more information on these adjustment bars, including whether an exemption
might apply to you.
If one or more of the below adjustment bars applies to you and you are not exempt under INA sections 245(a), (c), or (k),
you must qualify under INA section 245(i) to adjust.
1. You last entered the United States without being admitted or paroled after inspection by an immigration officer.
2. You last entered the United States as a nonimmigrant crewman.
3. You are now employed or have ever been employed in the United States without authorization.
4. You are not in lawful immigration status on the date of filing your application for adjustment of status.
5. You have at any time failed to continuously maintain a lawful status since entry into the United States, unless your
failure to maintain status was through no fault of your own or for technical reasons.
6. You were last admitted to the United States in transit without a visa.
Form I-485 Supplement A Instructions 04/01/24

Page 2 of 9

7. You were last admitted to the United States as a nonimmigrant visitor without a visa, under the Guam and
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands Visa Waiver Program, and you are not a Canadian citizen.
8. You were last admitted to the United States as a nonimmigrant visitor without a visa under the Visa Waiver Program
(see https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/tourism-visit/visa-waiver-program.html).
9. You are seeking employment-based adjustment of status, and you are not maintaining a lawful nonimmigrant status on
the date of filing your application for adjustment of status.
10. You have ever violated the terms of your nonimmigrant status.
If the bars do not apply to you or you are exempt, then you do not need to adjust under INA section 245(i) and you should
not file Supplement A.

DRAFT
Not for
Production
07/02/2024

Grounds of Inadmissibility

If you are inadmissible to the United States, you may not adjust to lawful permanent resident status. You can find the
grounds of inadmissibility listed in INA section 212(a) at www.uscis.gov/policy-manual/volume-8.
If you are inadmissible, you may be eligible for a waiver or other form of relief. If your waiver application or other form
of relief is granted, USCIS may approve your application to adjust status.
You can learn more about waivers and other forms of relief by reading the Instructions for Form I-601, Application for
Waiver of Grounds of Inadmissibility, at www.uscis.gov/I-601 and Form I-212, Application for Permission to Reapply for
Admission into the United States After Deportation or Removal, at www.uscis.gov/I-212.

What Immigrant Petitions and Permanent Labor Certification Applications Qualify Under INA
Section 245(i)?
You may use one of the following petitions and applications to qualify under INA section 245(i), if it was properly filed
and approvable when filed on or before April 30, 2001:
1. Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative;

2. Form I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker;

3. Form I-360, Petition for Amerasian, Widow(er), or Special Immigrant (including VAWA self-petitioners);
4. Form I-526, Immigrant Petition by Alien Investor; or

5. Form ETA-750, Application for Alien Employment Certification, Parts A and B.
If you are using an immigrant petition to show that you qualify for adjustment under INA section 245(i), provide the
receipt number of the petition in Part 2. Eligibility, Item Number 2. (if available). If you are using a permanent labor
certification application to qualify, you do not need to complete Item Number 2.
NOTE: If you use one of the petitions listed above to qualify to apply under INA section 245(i), you may be able to use
the same petition to establish eligibility for an immigrant visa, or you may establish eligibility for an immigrant visa based
on another petition or on being selected for a Diversity Visa for the current fiscal year.

Form I-485 Supplement A Instructions 04/01/24

Page 3 of 9

What Evidence Must You Submit to Establish Your Eligibility for Adjustment of Status under INA
Section 245(i)?
You must submit all evidence requested in these Instructions with your Supplement A. If you fail to submit required
evidence, USCIS may reject or deny Form I-485 and Supplement A for failure to submit requested evidence or supporting
documents in accordance with 8 CFR 103.2(b)(1) and these Instructions.
You must submit documentation to prove Item Numbers 1. - 4. below.
1. You:

DRAFT
Not for
Production
07/02/2024

A. Are or were the principal beneficiary of an immigrant petition or application for permanent labor certification
that was properly filed on or before April 30, 2001, and which was approvable when filed;
B. Are or were a derivative beneficiary (the principal beneficiary’s spouse or unmarried child under 21 years of age
at the time the qualifying petition or application was filed) of an immigrant petition or application for permanent
labor certification that was properly filed on or before April 30, 2001, and which was approvable when filed; or
C. Are currently the spouse or an unmarried child under 21 years of age who is eligible to accompany or followto-join a principal or derivative beneficiary described in Items A. or B. above, and the principal or derivative
beneficiary is currently applying for or was granted adjustment of status under INA section 245(i).
Documentation. To prove the existence of a qualifying petition or application, submit an official document showing
either:
•

The filing or approval of the immigrant petition (Form I-797, Notice of Action), which contains the principal
beneficiary’s name; or

•

The filing or approval of the permanent labor certification application (Form ETA-750), which contains the
principal beneficiary’s name.

If you qualify to apply for adjustment of status under INA section 245(i) because you are or were a derivative
beneficiary of a qualifying petition or application, you must prove the required relationship to the principal beneficiary
by submitting a marriage certificate (for spouse) or birth certificate (for child). This evidence must show that the
claimed relationship existed at the time the qualifying petition or application was properly filed. You do not need to
show that the relationship still exists.
If you qualify to apply for adjustment of status under INA section 245(i) because you are the current spouse or an
unmarried child under 21 years of age of a person who is or was the principal or derivative beneficiary of a qualifying
petition or application, you must submit evidence of your current relationship to the principal applicant.
2. The qualifying immigrant petition or application for permanent labor certification was properly filed.
An immigrant petition is considered properly filed if the:
A. Petitioner properly signed the petition;
B. Petitioner submitted the correct filing fee; and
C. Petition was physically received at a designated USCIS office (then known as the Immigration and Naturalization
Service (INS)) on or before April 30, 2001, or was mailed with a postmark on or before April 30, 2001 (regardless
of when INS received it).
A permanent labor certification application is considered properly filed if the U.S. Department of Labor (or a
designated state workforce agency) accepted the application on or before April 30, 2001, under applicable Federal
regulations at the time.

Form I-485 Supplement A Instructions 04/01/24

Page 4 of 9

Documentation. To show that your immigrant petition or permanent labor certification application was properly filed,
you must submit either:
•

Form I-797 showing a qualifying date of filing. (Form I-797 showing a filing date indicates the U.S. Government
accepted the petition and implies that the U.S. Government determined the petition was signed and submitted with
the appropriate filing fee); or

•

Form ETA-750 bearing a state workforce agency’s date stamp, an agency letter, or other document specifying the
date of receipt/filing.

3. The qualifying petition or application was approvable when filed.

DRAFT
Not for
Production
07/02/2024

An immigrant petition or labor certification application is considered approvable when filed if:
A. The petition or application was properly filed;

B. The petition or application was meritorious in fact; and

C. The petition or application was not frivolous (“frivolous” meaning patently without substance).
Documentation. Unless contradictory evidence exists, a final decision approving the required petition or application
shows that the petition or application was approvable when filed. Such an approval consists of either:
•

An INS approval notice (on Form I-797) for the immigrant petition; or

•

A U.S. Department of Labor certification stamp (on Form ETA-750) for the permanent labor certification application.

Absent an approved petition or application, you may submit any relevant evidence to show the petition or application
was properly filed and approvable when filed. USCIS makes this determination based on the circumstances that
existed at the time the qualifying petition or application was filed. A petition or application that was approvable when
filed but was later withdrawn, denied, or revoked due to circumstances that arose after the time of filing may still
qualify you for INA section 245(i) adjustment if you are otherwise eligible.
4. The principal beneficiary of the qualifying petition or application was physically present in the United States on
December 21, 2000 (if applicable).
If you qualify to apply for adjustment of status under INA section 245(i) based on an immigrant petition or application
for permanent labor certification filed on or after January 15, 1998, you must prove that the principal beneficiary of
that petition or application was physically present in the United States on December 21, 2000.
Documentation. In some cases, a single document may suffice to prove physical presence, but often you will need
to submit several documents. USCIS will ordinarily place the greatest weight on government-issued documents. The
following list gives examples of documents that you may submit as evidence of physical presence:
•

Form I-94 Arrival-Departure Record, the nonimmigrant visa page of the principal beneficiary’s passport, Form
I-512L, or other U.S. Government-issued document showing admission or parole into the United States after
inspection by an immigration officer;

•

A Notice to Appear in Immigration Court;

•

Official correspondence or other notices from a U.S. Government agency;

•

A state driver’s license;

•

Income tax or property tax records, returns, or payments;

•

School or college transcripts and records;

•

Hospital or doctor’s records;

•

Lease agreements and rental receipts;

•

Utility bill receipts;

Form I-485 Supplement A Instructions 04/01/24

Page 5 of 9

•

Employment records, such as payroll statements or pay stubs; or

•

Bank and credit card statements and records.

NOTE: If you submit a personal affidavit attesting to physical presence, you must also submit other supporting
documentation. USCIS will evaluate all documentation on a case-by-case basis.
If you qualify to apply for adjustment of status under INA section 245(i) based on an immigrant petition or application
for permanent labor certification filed on or before January 14, 1998, you do NOT need to submit any evidence of
physical presence.

DRAFT
Not for
Production
07/02/2024

General Instructions

We provide free forms through the USCIS website. To view, print, or complete our forms, you should use the latest
version of Adobe Reader, which you can download for free at http://get.adobe.com/reader/. If you do not have internet
access, you may call the USCIS Contact Center and ask that we mail a form to you.
Signature. You (or your signing authority) must properly complete your supplement. USCIS will not accept a stamped
or typewritten name in place of any signature on this supplement. If you are under 14 years of age, your parent or legal
guardian may sign the supplement on your behalf. A legal guardian may also sign for a mentally incompetent person. If
your supplement is not signed, or if the signature is not valid, we will reject your supplement. See 8 CFR 103.2(a)(7)(ii)(A).
If USCIS accepts a request for adjudication and determines that it has a deficient signature, USCIS may deny the request.
Validity of Signatures. USCIS will consider a photocopied, faxed, or scanned copy of an original handwritten signature
as valid for filing purposes. The photocopy, fax, or scan must be of the original document containing the handwritten ink
signature.
Filing Fee. See USCIS Form G-1055, available at www.uscis.gov/g-1055 for information about all filing fees.
Evidence. When you file your supplement, you must submit all evidence and supporting documents listed in the What
Evidence Must You Submit to Establish Your Eligibility for Adjustment of Status under INA Section 245(i) section
of these Instructions.
Biometric Services Appointment. USCIS may require you to appear for an interview or provide biometrics (fingerprints,
photograph, and/or signature) at any time to verify your identity, obtain additional information, and conduct background
and security checks, including a check of criminal history records maintained by the Federal Bureau of Investigation
(FBI), before making a decision on your application or petition. If we determine that a biometric services appointment
is necessary, we will send you an appointment notice with the date, time, and location of your appointment. If you are
currently overseas, your notice will instruct you to contact a U.S. Embassy, U.S. Consulate, or USCIS office outside the
United States to schedule an appointment.
At your biometrics appointment, you must sign an oath reaffirming that:
1. You provided or authorized all information in the supplement;
2. You reviewed and understood all of the information contained in, and submitted with, your supplement; and
3. All of this information was complete, true, and correct at the time of filing.
If you do not attend your biometric services appointment, we may deny your supplement. For applicants and dependents
who appear before an immigration judge, failure to attend a biometric services appointment, without good cause, may
result in the immigration judge finding that your application was abandoned, and USCIS may also deny any other
application you filed with USCIS.

Form I-485 Supplement A Instructions 04/01/24

Page 6 of 9

Copies. You should submit legible photocopies of requested documents unless the Instructions specifically instruct you to
submit an original document. USCIS may request an original document at any time during our process. If we request an
original document from you, we will return it to you after USCIS determines it no longer needs the original.
NOTE: If you submit original documents when they are not required or requested, USCIS or the Immigration Court
may destroy them after we receive them.
Translations. If you submit a document with information in a foreign language, you must also submit a full English
translation. The translator must sign a certification that the English language translation is complete and accurate, and that
they are competent to translate from the foreign language into English. The certification must also include their signature,
printed name, the signature date, and their contact information.

DRAFT
Not for
Production
07/02/2024

USCIS Contact Center. For additional information on the supplement and Instructions about where to file, change of
address, and other questions, visit the USCIS Contact Center at www.uscis.gov/contactcenter or call 800-375-5283 (TTY
800-767-1833). The USCIS Contact Center provides information in English and Spanish.
Disability Accommodations/Modifications. To request a disability accommodation/modification, follow the instructions
on your appointment notice or at www.uscis.gov/accommodationsinfo.
How To Complete Supplement A

1. Type or print legibly in black ink.

2. If you need extra space to complete any item within this supplement, attach a separate sheet of paper. Type or print
your name and Alien Registration Number (A-Number) (if any) at the top of each sheet; indicate the Page Number,
Part Number, and Item Number to which your answer refers; and sign and date each sheet.
3. Answer all questions fully and accurately. If a question does not apply to you (for example, if you have never been
married and the question asks, “Provide the name of your current spouse”), type or print “N/A,” unless otherwise
directed. If your answer to a question which requires a numeric response is zero or none (for example, “How many
children do you have” or “How many times have you departed the United States”), type or print “None,” unless
otherwise directed.
4. USCIS Online Account Number. You will only have a USCIS Online Account Number (OAN) if you previously
filed a form that has a receipt number that begins with IOE. If you filed the form online, you can find your OAN in
your account profile. If you mailed us the form, you can find your OAN at the top of the Account Access Notice we
sent you. If you do not have a receipt number that begins with IOE, you do not have an OAN. The OAN is not the
same as an A-Number.
5. Immigrant Category for Adjustment of Status. When you filed your Form I-485, you selected an immigrant
category in Part 2., Item Number 3. as the basis of your eligibility to adjust status. Insert the full title of that
immigrant category in Part 2., Item Number 5.
6. Part 4. Applicant’s Contact Information, Certification, and Signature. You must sign and date your supplement
and, if applicable, provide your daytime telephone number, mobile telephone number, and email address. The
signature of a parent or legal guardian, if applicable, is acceptable. A stamped or typewritten name in place of a
signature is not acceptable.
7. Part 5. Interpreter’s Contact Information, Certification, and Signature. If you used anyone as an interpreter to
read the Instructions and questions on this supplement to you in a language in which you are fluent, the interpreter
must fill out this section and sign and date the supplement.

Form I-485 Supplement A Instructions 04/01/24

Page 7 of 9

8. Part 6. Contact Information, Certification, and Signature of the Person Preparing this Supplement, if Other
Than the Applicant. The person who completed your supplement, if other than the applicant, must sign this section.
If the same individual acted as your interpreter and your preparer, then that person should complete both Part 5. and
Part 6. A stamped or typewritten name in place of a signature is not acceptable.
We recommend that you print or save a copy of your completed supplement for your records.

Where to File?

DRAFT
Not for
Production
07/02/2024

Please see our website at www.uscis.gov/i-485supa for the most current information about where to file this supplement.
If you are in proceedings in Immigration Court (that is, if you have been served with Form I-221, Order to Show Cause
and Notice of Hearing; Form I-122, Notice to Applicant for Admission Detained for Hearing Before an Immigration
Judge; Form I-862, Notice to Appear; or Form I-863, Notice of Referral to Immigration Judge, that DHS filed with the
Immigration Court), you should file this supplement with the appropriate Immigration Court. The DHS attorney will
provide you with pre-order filing instructions regarding background and security investigations. You must also submit
a copy to USCIS. Please see our website at https://www.uscis.gov/laws-and-policy/other-resources/immigrationbenefits-in-eoir-removal-proceedings or visit the USCIS Contact Center’s website for the most current information
about where to file the copy of the application that you file with the Immigration Court.

Address Change

If you are not a U.S. citizen, you must notify USCIS of your new address within 10 days of moving from your previous
residence. For information on changing your address, go to our website at www.uscis.gov/addresschange, or call the
USCIS Contact Center.
If you are already in proceedings in Immigration Court, you must also notify the Immigration Court on EOIR Form 33/
IC, Change of Address/Contact Information Form, of any changes of address within five days of the change in address. The
EOIR Form 33/IC is available on the EOIR website at www.justice.gov/eoir/form-eoir-33-eoir-immigration-court-listing
or can be filed online at EOIR’s Respondent Access at https://respondentaccess.eoir.justice.gov/
NOTE: Do not submit a change of address request to the USCIS Lockbox.

Processing Information
USCIS will reject any Supplement A that is not signed or accompanied by the correct filing fee and will send you
a notice that Supplement A is incomplete. You may fix the problem and resubmit Supplement A. Supplement A is not
considered properly filed until USCIS accepts it.
Initial Processing. Once USCIS accepts your supplement we will check it for completeness. If you do not properly
complete this supplement, you will not establish a basis for your eligibility and we may reject or deny your Form I-485.
Requests for More Information. USCIS may request that you provide more information or evidence to support your
supplement. We may also request that you provide the originals of any copies you submit. If we request an original
document from you, we will return it to you after USCIS determines it is no longer needed.

Form I-485 Supplement A Instructions 04/01/24

Page 8 of 9

USCIS Forms and Information
To ensure you are using the latest version of this supplement, visit www.uscis.gov.
For questions about filing your supplement, you can use our many online tools (uscis.gov/tools) including our virtual
assistant, Emma. This website is available in Arabic, Haitian Creole, Spanish, French, Polish, Portuguese, Russian,
Tagalog, Vietnamese, and Chinese.

Penalties

DRAFT
Not for
Production
07/02/2024

If you knowingly and willfully falsify or conceal a material fact or submit a false document with your Supplement A, we
will deny your Supplement A and may deny any other immigration benefit. In addition, you will face severe penalties
provided by law and may be subject to criminal prosecution.

DHS Privacy Notice

AUTHORITIES: USCIS is collecting the information requested on this application, and the associated evidence, under
INA section 245(i).
PURPOSE: The primary purpose for providing the requested information on this application is to determine if you
have established eligibility to adjust status to that of a lawful permanent resident of the United States. DHS will use the
information you provide to grant or deny your application to adjust status to lawful permanent resident.
DISCLOSURE: The information you provide is voluntary. However, failure to provide the requested information,
including your Social Security number (if applicable), and any requested evidence, may delay a final decision in your case
or result in USCIS denying your application.
ROUTINE USES: DHS may, where allowable under relevant confidentiality provisions, share the information
you provide on this application, and any additional requested evidence, with other Federal, state, local, and foreign
government agencies and authorized organizations. DHS follows approved routine uses, as described in the associated
published system of records notices [DHS/USCIS/ICE/CBP-001 Alien File, Index, and National File Tracking System,
DHS/USCIS-007 Benefits Information System, and DHS/USCIS-018 Immigration Biometric and Background Check]
and the published privacy impact assessments [DHS/USCIS/PIA-016(a) Computer Linked Application Information
Management System] which you can find at www.dhs.gov/privacy. DHS may also share this information, as appropriate,
for law enforcement purposes or in the interest of national security.

Paperwork Reduction Act
USCIS may not conduct or sponsor an information collection, and you are not required to respond to a collection of
information, unless it displays a currently valid Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control number. The public
reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated at 53 minutes per response, in addition to the burden
for completing Form I-485, including the time for reviewing instructions, gathering the required documentation and
information, completing the supplement, attaching necessary documentation, and submitting the supplement. Send
comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions
for reducing this burden, to: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Office of Policy and Strategy, Regulatory
Coordination Division, 5900 Capital Gateway Drive, Mail Stop #2140, Camp Springs, MD 20588-0009; OMB No. 16150023. Do not mail your completed Supplement A to this address.

Form I-485 Supplement A Instructions 04/01/24

Page 9 of 9