Documentation required for 485

[android09]

So it seems USCIS somehow is not strict about its own guidance. Hey I wouldn't complain about it.
Bottomline: go ahead and file concurrent. Worse case is waste of some money and effort. But the benefits of 485 will outweigh any potential loss.

Hi Q,

It would be really, really helpful for members here if there is a thread or a list of documentation needed for I-485 to refer to. Can you assist? Seeing multiple different requirements from how people interpret USCIS requirements.

[srimurthy]

Hi Q,

It would be really, really helpful for members here if there is a thread or a list of documentation needed for I-485 to refer to. Can you assist? Seeing multiple different requirements from how people interpret USCIS requirements.

Some info that I know of and others can add or modify:

Where to sign forms:
Form I-485-Page 10, Part 10. 6a
Form I-765- Page 5, Part 3. 7a.
Form I-131-Page 5, Part 8. 1a.
Form I-944- Page 15, Part 5, 6.
I-485, Supplement J-Page 2, part 3, 6a.

Who has to complete which forms:
Principal applicant has to complete following forms:
I-485
I-765
I-131
I-944
Supplement J
I-693(Medical Examination)

Spouse and Children (if applicable)
I-485
I-765
I-131
I-693 (Medical Examination)

[idliman]

Also it is a good idea to include G-1145 form. There is no fee. It needs your name, email and cell number. This is for electronic notification.

The attorney's will file G-28 form along with the above.

Photo Requirements:

You can take a photo yourself at home with white background. Then use "e passport photo" (google it), to convert the photo to 2x2 passport template. Once the positioning is adjusted using online website, you can download and print the 4x6 for about $0.30 to get 4 photos. I believe you need 6 photos per person. 2 each for I485, I765 and I131.

[amarrecherla]

Some info that I know of and others can add or modify:

Where to sign forms:
Form I-485-Page 10, Part 10. 6a
Form I-765- Page 5, Part 3. 7a.
Form I-131-Page 5, Part 8. 1a.
Form I-944- Page 15, Part 5, 6.
I-485, Supplement J-Page 2, part 3, 6a.

Who has to complete which forms:
Principal applicant has to complete following forms:
I-485
I-765
I-131
I-944
Supplement J
I-693(Medical Examination)

Spouse and Children (if applicable)
I-485
I-765
I-131
I-693 (Medical Examination)

As far I know I-944 is required for both Principal and Spouse. Is that not the case?
Also can you guys share the attorney fee for I-944. My attorney is charging $1250 per applicant for preparing I-944, which seems to be very high.

[idliman]

As far I know I-944 is required for both Principal and Spouse. Is that not the case?
Also can you guys share the attorney fee for I-944. My attorney is charging $1250 per applicant for preparing I-944, which seems to be very high.

For my friends case: One attorney quoted $1000. The employer attorney quoted $1500. It looks like quote is right in the middle.

[srimurthy]

As far I know I-944 is required for both Principal and Spouse. Is that not the case?
Also can you guys share the attorney fee for I-944. My attorney is charging $1250 per applicant for preparing I-944, which seems to be very high.

Where to sign forms:
Form I-485-Page 17, Part 10. 6a
Form I-765- Page 5, Part 3. 7a.
Form I-131-Page 5, Part 8. 1a.
Form I-944- Page 15, Part 5, 6.
I-485, Supplement J-Page 2, part 3, 6a.

Who has to complete which forms:
Principal applicant has to complete following forms:
I-485
I-765
I-131
I-944
Supplement J
I-693(Medical Examination)
G-1145 (optional to intimate application received)

Spouse and Children (if applicable)
I-485
I-765
I-131
I-693 (Medical Examination)
I-944
G-1145 (optional to intimate application received)

[Zenzone]

Where to sign forms:
Form I-485-Page 17, Part 10. 6a
Form I-765- Page 5, Part 3. 7a.
Form I-131-Page 5, Part 8. 1a.
Form I-944- Page 15, Part 5, 6.
I-485, Supplement J-Page 2, part 3, 6a.

Who has to complete which forms:
Principal applicant has to complete following forms:
I-485
I-765
I-131
I-944
Supplement J
I-693(Medical Examination)
G-1145 (optional to intimate application received)

Spouse and Children (if applicable)
I-485
I-765
I-131
I-693 (Medical Examination)
I-944
G-1145 (optional to intimate application received)

Thank you! This is useful to double check. My attorney has clarified that wet signatures are needed for all the forms. Has anyone heard otherwise?

[getsaby]

For my friends case: One attorney quoted $1000. The employer attorney quoted $1500. It looks like quote is right in the middle.

Murthy is charging 650$ for the same per applicant.

[Kanmani]

Could there be any impact in the future after my AOS has been approved for not filing Supp J or reporting employment change for my current employer/employment when AOS was approved?

thanks!

Hi Harpreet,

Here is the instructions from USCIS on when to file I-485 supplement J.

https://www.aila.org/File/Related/19050634v.pdf
When Should You File Supplement J?

If you are filing Supplement J to confirm that the job offer in the underlying Form I-140 is bona fide and still
available to you, you must submit Supplement J when:
1. You initially file your employment-based Form I-485 with USCIS unless you are filing Form I-485 together with
Form I-140; or
2. You have received a Request for Evidence (RFE) or a Notice of Intent to Deny (NOID) from USCIS requesting
confirmation that the job offer in the underlying Form I-140 is bona fide and still available to you or, if applicable, that
the job offer you have previously ported to under INA section 204(j) is bona fide and still available to you.

We were with Murthy law firm, 2012 filers as well and never filed J. Changed jobs during the course of our journey but, submitted employer job offer (old format) along with our medicals while responding RFEs (thrice)
Our latest RFE in August 2020 was only for Medicals.

[harpreetbhatti]

Hi Harpreet,

Here is the instructions from USCIS on when to file I-485 supplement J.

https://www.aila.org/File/Related/19050634v.pdf
When Should You File Supplement J?

If you are filing Supplement J to confirm that the job offer in the underlying Form I-140 is bona fide and still
available to you, you must submit Supplement J when:
1. You initially file your employment-based Form I-485 with USCIS unless you are filing Form I-485 together with
Form I-140; or
2. You have received a Request for Evidence (RFE) or a Notice of Intent to Deny (NOID) from USCIS requesting
confirmation that the job offer in the underlying Form I-140 is bona fide and still available to you or, if applicable, that
the job offer you have previously ported to under INA section 204(j) is bona fide and still available to you.

We were with Murthy law firm, 2012 filers as well and never filed J. Changed jobs during the course of our journey but, submitted employer job offer (old format) along with our medicals while responding RFEs (thrice)
Our latest RFE in August 2020 was only for Medicals.

Thanks you, this was useful! This forum is awesome.

[SG2020]

Anyone with an arrest record?

Hi all - I was hoping to get some help with filling out the form for questions 25 - 29 (criminal acts and violations). I was arrested for disorderly conduct in grad school, charged, and went into a pretrial probation program (in Massachusetts). I completed it without entering a plea, and charges were dismissed without any plea being offered. If anyone is in the same/similar situation or has knowledge in this matter, I will appreciate help in completing the form (how to answer questions 25 - 29). Thanks.

[SG2020]

Where to sign forms:
Form I-485-Page 17, Part 10. 6a
Form I-765- Page 5, Part 3. 7a.
Form I-131-Page 5, Part 8. 1a.
Form I-944- Page 15, Part 5, 6.
I-485, Supplement J-Page 2, part 3, 6a.

Who has to complete which forms:
Principal applicant has to complete following forms:
I-485
I-765
I-131
I-944
Supplement J
I-693(Medical Examination)
G-1145 (optional to intimate application received)

Spouse and Children (if applicable)
I-485
I-765
I-131
I-693 (Medical Examination)
I-944
G-1145 (optional to intimate application received)

Sorry - can someone clarify if my spouse also has to complete I-944 separately? I am the primary applicant and she is on H4 EAD. The supporting documents particularly the assets are going to be the same. Will appreciate anyone confirm if you have already done the filing.

[srimurthy]

Sorry - can someone clarify if my spouse also has to complete I-944 separately? I am the primary applicant and she is on H4 EAD. The supporting documents particularly the assets are going to be the same. Will appreciate anyone confirm if you have already done the filing.

yes we have to file I-944 separately for each dependent too, and even if the assets evidence is same we have to make copies and attach. The reason is each 485 is reviewed and approved separately and better to attach the complete evidence to each individually. I know we are doing this mostly for the first time. Our legal team initially said just one and then they came back to complete I-944 for each separately.

[srimurthy]

Also it is a good idea to include G-1145 form. There is no fee. It needs your name, email and cell number. This is for electronic notification.

The attorney's will file G-28 form along with the above.

Photo Requirements:

You can take a photo yourself at home with white background. Then use "e passport photo" (google it), to convert the photo to 2x2 passport template. Once the positioning is adjusted using online website, you can download and print the 4x6 for about $0.30 to get 4 photos. I believe you need 6 photos per person. 2 each for I485, I765 and I131.

This is awesome and I took the photos on a phone and printed at home.

[getsaby]

yes we have to file I-944 separately for each dependent too, and even if the assets evidence is same we have to make copies and attach. The reason is each 485 is reviewed and approved separately and better to attach the complete evidence to each individually. I know we are doing this mostly for the first time. Our legal team initially said just one and then they came back to complete I-944 for each separately.

Per my Lawyer,

"I-944 form fee of $650 for each person. The new 944 form instituted by the government as mandatory for filing the I-485 only came into existence recently and is an additional service and work that is required to prepare and file your case. This fee reflects the significant amount of work that must go into the preparation of this form and the time to review the financial documents associated with the form. This additional fee is per person."

[bangaloreboy]

just an FYI, I-131 has 2D barcode requirements which gets generated only when the form is printed on IE or Safari.
USCIS does mention that they will process the form with or without a barcode at the bottom of the page.

[idliman]

Per my Lawyer,

"I-944 form fee of $650 for each person. The new 944 form instituted by the government as mandatory for filing the I-485 only came into existence recently and is an additional service and work that is required to prepare and file your case. This fee reflects the significant amount of work that must go into the preparation of this form and the time to review the financial documents associated with the form. This additional fee is per person."

Just to clarify: USCIS charges no filing fee for form I-944. If you do it yourself and send it along with I-485, there is no fee for this specific form. However, the attorneys charge a fee for any form that they work for you. This is standard practice. What I am surprised is that this fee varies from $1500 to $650 depending on the attorney that you choose. This band is too wide.

[Zenzone]

Friends,

Quick clarification needed here. The USCIS filing fee per applicant when I-485, I-576 and I-131 are filed concurrently is $1,225, right?

[Prabhas]

Friends,

Quick clarification needed here. The USCIS filing fee per applicant when I-485, I-576 and I-131 are filed concurrently is $1,225, right?

Zenzone- that is correct. The filing fee covers I485,I765,I131, plus (I944 , I485J do not have additional fee at this time). I submitted my file last week and made a check for $1225 per applicant.

[AceMan]

Friends,

Quick clarification needed here. The USCIS filing fee per applicant when I-485, I-576 and I-131 are filed concurrently is $1,225, right?

And if you have kids under 14 it is $750.00 for them.