How to Adjust Immigration Status
U.S. naturalization applicants can check on the status of their citizenship application at any time to see where the process stands. The status of the application can be checked online or by phone.
Steps to Adjust Immigration Status
1. The applicant first determines the basis for change of immigration status, which could be any of the following categories:
- Through petition filed by family member
- Through petition filed by employer
- Through refugee or asylum status
- Through special immigrant status
2. Based on the category, the applicant then files the required immigration petition or has it filed on his/her behalf by a U.S. sponsor.
- Family- based: A family member can file Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, for the applicant.
- Employment-based: The applicant’s employer can file Form I-140, Petition for Immigrant Worker, or Form I-129, Petition for Non-immigrant Worker on behalf of the applicant.
- Entrepreneurs: The applicant can file Form I-526, Immigrant Petition by Alien Entrepreneur, if he/she is an entrepreneur who intends to invest significant amounts of capital into a business venture in the U.S.
- Special Immigrant: The special immigrant can file Form I-360, Petition for Amerasian, Widow(er), or Special Immigrant on their own behalf.
3. The applicant then files Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residency or Adjust Status once the U.S. visa is available.
4. After filing Form I-485, the applicant will be notified to appear at an Application Support Center for biometrics collection.
This information will be used to conduct required security checks and for eventual creation of a green card.
5. The applicant may also be notified to appear for an interview at a prescribed date, time, and location.
He/she needs to carry originals of all documentation submitted with the application including passports, official travel documents, and Form I-94 to the interview, and answer all questions under oath.
6. If the interview is successful, a green card will be sent to the applicant through the mail.
