Green Cards for a Refugee

If you were admitted as a refugee, you are required by law to apply for a green card (permanent residence) in the United States 1 year after being admitted as a refugee.

Eligibility Criteria

You must apply for a green card 1 year after you are admitted to the United States as a refugee if you:

               Have been physically present in the United States for at least 1 year after being admitted as a refugee

               Have not had your refugee admission terminated

               Have not already acquired permanent resident (green card) status

Application Process
To apply for a green card as a refugee, you need to file Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status.

Note: When permanent residency is granted, you will have your adjustment of status date recorded as the day you entered into the United States as a refugee.

Supporting Evidence For Form I-485
To apply for a green card, refugees should submit the following documents and information (in this order):

               Form I-485, signed (Box "h" of Part 2 should be marked with the word "refugee" printed on the accompanying line)

               Two photos in an envelope stapled to lower left corner

                       Your name and A-number, if known, should be lightly written in pencil on the back of each photo

                       Details on photo size, etc., may be found on the Form I-485 instructions

               Form G-28, if applicable, signed by you and the attorney (or authorized representative)

                       Facsimile signature stamps are acceptable for the signature of the representatives

                       However, you must sign the initial Form G-28 submitted with the application in the original

               Form G-325A

               Form I-693, signed by you and the civil surgeon, with only the vaccination portion completed

       You may have the vaccination portion of the Form I-693 completed at any state or local health department or may choose to make an appointment with a civil surgeon designated by the USCIS to conduct medical examinations

       Call the National Customer Service Center at 1-800-375-5283 to locate USCIS-designated civil surgeons (doctors) where you live

               A complete Form I-693 is required only if:

       There were medical grounds of inadmissibility noted at the time of arrival in the United States

       If the refugee status was granted to the individual in the United States by an approved Form I-730, Refugee/Asylee Relative Petition

       If neither of these conditions apply, all that is required is the vaccination portion

               Evidence of refugee status (This might include a clear, readable photocopy of Form I-94 or a copy of your Employment Authorization Document)

               Proof of any legal name change you have obtained since you were granted refugee status

Family Application Process
You must prepare a separate Form I-485 application packet for each member of your family who wishes to obtain a green card. All family members’ application packets should be mailed together in the same mailing envelope. To hold each application packet together, please use a single staple or a paper clip.

Change of Address
If your address changes, you must inform USCIS in writing within 10 days of moving. This must be done for each family member. Submitting a change of address for the head of household or a single member of the household only will not change the address for the other family members. You may meet this requirement by:

               Mailing Form AR-11, Alien's Change of Address Card, to the address on the form

               Completing "Step 1" on the form