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⇒ Student & Scholar Advising ⇒ Faculty, Staff, & Visitors ⇒ Permanent Residence ⇒ Documentation for Application Based on Employment

Documentation for Application Based on Employment

Forms:

Forms can be downloaded at the USCIS website.

Travel:

Once you submit the I-485 and related documentation, there will be a long wait before you receive permanent residence.  During this time, you may have travel restrictions.  See Travel Outside the US after Application for Immigrant Visa.

Employment:

See section on Work Authorization, below.  Employees in valid H-1B status do not need additional employment authorization unless they will be accepting additional work outside their normal IU employment.

Procedure:

Keep a copy of everything you send to USCIS.  If your application is submitted while your I-140 petition is pending, mark “CONCURRENT FILING” on the outside envelope as well as on the I-485.  Mail the application to:

United States Citizenship and Immigration Services
Nebraska Service Center
P.O. Box 87485
Lincoln, NE  68501-7485

Lincoln will send a receipt in 2–4 weeks.  Any work or travel authorization applications will take approximately 3 months for processing.  You will later receive a notice to go to the USCIS office in Indianapolis (or Chicago for South Bend and Gary applicants) for fingerprinting.  Eventually, you will receive by mail either a notice to appear for an interview (interviews are generally waived for IU employees), or a notice that your application has been approved.  The laminated Permanent Resident card will be sent shortly thereafter.

If you move at any point during processing of your application, it is very important to notify USCIS of your new address.  Most USCIS letters are not forwarded with the rest of your mail by the postal service.  Call the USCIS Customer Service Line at 1-800-767-1833 to report your new address.  Also be sure to file form AR-11.

The primary applicant and all dependents must each file Form I-485 and accompanying documentation as listed below.  Personal check(s), money order(s), or certified check(s) may be used, made payable to the Department of Homeland Security.  Staple a separate check to each I-485 form.

1. Form I-485 (Application for Permanent Residence): $1010 fee ($600 for each child under 14 filing with parent).  Staple a separate check to each form.  Check box (a) in Part 2 of the form.  Supplement A is not required unless you are in the US illegally.

   The fee covers biometrics (fingerprints) and any applications for employment and travel authorization (see “Work Authorization” and “Advance Parole” below).

2. Two color passport pictures following these instructions: Print names on reverse side in pencil, place in a separate envelope or plastic bag and staple the envelope to the I-485.
3. Form G-325A (Biographic Information): All 4 pages are required.  Complete on-line and the 4 pages will print.
4. Sealed I-693 (Report of Medical Examination) completed by a certified USCIS Civil Surgeon: Students and spouses may use the designated Civil Surgeons at the Health Center.  USCIS provides links to the vaccination requirements and certified Civil Surgeons at the I-693 forms page.
5. Evidence of valid nonimmigrant status: Photocopy of both sides of I-94; statement of all prior periods of stay and visa status in the US including copies of related documents if possible (I-20s, IAP-66/DS-2019s, I-797s) and Exchange Visitor waiver letter, if applicable.
6. Photocopy of passport ID page, expiration page, and all US visa pages.
7. Photocopy of I-140 Approval Notice (Immigrant Petition for Alien Workers).  If you are filing while the I-140 is pending, write “CONCURRENT FILING” on the cover sheet and mailing envelope and attach a copy of the I-140 Receipt Notice.
8. Photocopy of birth certificate showing parents’ names.  Passports are not acceptable substitutes for a birth record.

9. If spouse is applying, photocopy of the marriage license of the primary applicant and spouse with the spouse’s documents.

   If you have been married for less than two years, include evidence of the bona fides of the marriage.  Suggested items include documentation of joint ownership or property; or a lease showing joint tenancy of a common residence; or documentation showing co-mingling of financial resources; or birth certificate(s) of child(ren); or affidavits sworn to or affirmed by third parties having personal knowledge of the bona fides of the marital relationship (Each affidavit must contain the full name and address, date and place of birth of the person making the affidavit, his or her relationship to the petitioner of beneficiary, if any, and complete information and details explaining how the person acquired his or her knowledge of your marriage); or any other relevant documentation to establish that there is an ongoing marital union.

10. If spouse is applying and either the primary applicant or spouse has been married before, include photocopies of divorce decree(s) and/or death certificate(s) from all prior marriages with spouse’s documents.

11. Current employment letter for primary applicant.

    Sample wording:

    This is to certify that ____ is a ______[Asst. Professor] in the _______ Department, Indiana University, _____[campus].  Her annual salary is $_____ for the current academic year.  Signed by chair or administrative secretary.

12. If family members are applying, Form I-134 (Affidavit of Support) must be completed by primary applicant on behalf of any accompanying family members.  Include original with spouse’s documents and a copy with each additional dependent’s documents.  Employment-based applicants do not file Form I-864.
13. Cover sheet listing all documentation.

Work Authorization:

If any applicant wishes to obtain work authorization while the I-485 application is pending, you may send an application along with the I-485 application or you may file it later.  Complete Form I-765, (Application for Employment Authorization).  Download page 10 only.  Staple an envelope with two additional photos to the lower left corner of the I-765.  Mark (c)(9) in question #16.  If you are applying for authorization after filing the I-485, include a copy of your USCIS I-485 receipt notice and a copy of your passport ID page.

Authorization should be granted within 90 days.

Fee for initial application and any renewal is covered by the I-485 fee.  Those who filed their I-485 before the July 31, 2007 fee increase must pay a fee of $340 for any application or renewal of employment authorization.

Employees in valid H-1B status do not need additional employment authorization unless they will be accepting additional work outside their normal IU employment.

Advance Parole (travel authorization):

See the attachment on Travel after Application for Immigrant Visa to determine whether you need to file Form I-131 for Advance Parole with the I-485 application.  You also have the option of filing for it later with a photocopy of the receipt notice.

Fee for initial application and any renewal is covered by the I-485 fee.  Those who filed their I-485 before the July 31, 2007 fee increase must pay a fee of $305 for any application or renewal of advance parole.

Translator’s Certificate:

Any document not in English must be translated and accompanied by a translator’s statement.  You should not translate your own documents.  The translation does not have to be notarized, but it must include the certification of the translator.  The following is an acceptable example of certification:

I, [name of translator], hereby certify that I am competent to translate from the [ _ ] language into English and that the attached/above is an accurate translation of the original [birth/marriage/other] document.

Signature _______________________
Name of translator __________________________
Address: _______________________
Telephone: _______________________

Last updated July, 2009