Adjustment of Status Filing Checklist

This checklist is for assembling and filing a complete concurrent adjustment package (marriage-based shown; the structure is the same for other family cases). Follow the assembly order below — a package that arrives organized gets processed faster and draws fewer RFEs. Confirm every fee and the filing address on uscis.gov the week you file.

Forms — signed, current edition, in this stack order

• Form I-130 (petition) — $675 paper / $625 online — signed by the petitioner; skip if a stand-alone I-130 is already pending/approved (include the I-797 instead)
• Form I-130A — signed by the immigrant spouse (marriage cases only)
• Form I-485 (adjustment application) — $1,440; $950 for a child under 14 filing with a parent — signed by the applicant
• Form I-765 (work permit) — $260 when filed with the I-485 — optional but recommended; category (c)(9)
• Form I-131 (advance parole) — $630 — optional; required before any travel while the I-485 is pending
• Form I-864 (affidavit of support) — $0 — signed by the petitioner/sponsor, with the financial exhibit set behind it
• Form I-693 (medical) — sealed civil surgeon envelope placed in the package unopened; including it at filing avoids the most common RFE
• Check every form: current edition date, every required field answered ("N/A"/"None" where applicable), ink or valid electronic signature on each

Supporting documents by form

• Behind the I-130: petitioner's proof of status, certified marriage certificate, prior-marriage terminations for both spouses (+ certified translations), one photo of each spouse, bona fide marriage evidence set
• Behind the I-485: applicant's birth certificate + certified translation, passport bio page, current visa page, I-94 printout, all prior I-797s/status documents, two passport-style photos
• Certified court dispositions for every arrest/charge of the applicant, anywhere, ever — even dismissed, sealed, or expunged
• Behind the I-765: two passport-style photos, copy of I-94, copy of any prior EAD (front/back)
• Behind the I-131: two passport-style photos, copy of a government photo ID, explanation of travel need if any
• Behind the I-864: most recent tax return or IRS transcript (3 years recommended), W-2s/1099s, employment letter, recent pay stubs, sponsor's proof of status, joint-sponsor set if used
• Certified English translation with translator's certification for every non-English document — complete translations, not summaries

Fees — electronic payment only

• USCIS accepts electronic payment only (no personal checks, money orders, or cashier's checks since 10/28/2025) — for paper filings use Form G-1650 (ACH) or the current card authorization method per the form instructions
• Pay each form's fee separately as instructed — one combined payment for multiple forms can bounce the whole package
• Standard marriage AOS total: about $3,005 (I-130 $675 + I-485 $1,440 + I-765 $260 + I-131 $630)
• K-1 entrants adjusting after marriage: no new I-130, total about $2,330 (I-485 + I-765 + I-131)
• Verify every amount on the USCIS Fee Schedule (G-1055) the week you file — a wrong fee is an automatic rejection

Assembly, tabbing, and copies

• Cover letter on top: case type, list of every form and fee, table of contents of exhibits, your daytime phone
• Order the package: cover letter → fee payments/authorizations → I-130 set → I-485 set → I-765 set → I-131 set → I-864 set → sealed I-693
• Two-hole punch or binder clips only — no staples through exhibit sets, no folders, no binders, no originals unless a form specifically demands one
• Label exhibits (A, B, C…) matching the cover-letter index; separate form sets with colored sheets or labeled tab pages
• Photos: put each person's name and A-number (if any) lightly on the back in pencil, in a small envelope clipped to the relevant form
• Photocopy or scan the ENTIRE assembled package — every page, in order — before sealing; you will need this exact copy at the interview and for any RFE
• G-1145 e-notification form clipped to the top if filing on paper (free text/email receipt alerts)

Filing — online vs. mail — and what happens next

• Online filing: available for a stand-alone I-130 ($625 online); the concurrent I-485 family package is generally a paper filing — check current USCIS online-filing availability before choosing
• Paper filing: confirm the exact lockbox address for your form/category/state on uscis.gov the day you mail — addresses change
• Ship trackable (USPS Priority with tracking, FedEx, or UPS to the courier address) and save the delivery confirmation
• Calendar follow-ups: receipt notices (I-797C) in ~2–4 weeks; biometrics appointment notice after that; call USCIS if no receipts in 30 days
• Check receipt notices for name/date errors the day they arrive and correct immediately
• After filing: no international travel until advance parole approves; report any address change within 10 days (online AR-11 process); keep the I-693 timing in mind — it is valid only while the case is pending

Notes: The three package-killers are wrong fees, missing signatures, and an outdated form edition — check all three the day before filing. The I-693 is valid only while the application is pending: schedule the civil surgeon exam against your filing date and submit it sealed. Traveling abroad after filing without an approved advance parole abandons the I-485. Cases filed before September 18, 2026 are reviewed under the current, narrower public charge standard. Usher Law Group, P.C., (718) 484-7510.