Form I-485 Filing Address: Where to Send Your Application

Mailing your Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status to the wrong address causes delays or rejection. When filing Form I-485, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services uses different filing locations depending on your eligibility category, whether you're pursuing a family-based green card, an employment-based green card, or a special immigrant classification.

As of April 1, 2024, certain employment-based filings transitioned from the Nebraska Service Center and Texas Service Center to lockbox facilities. This guide provides exact addresses for every filing scenario, including territories like Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Northern Mariana Islands.

The sections below walk you through how to determine your correct filing address, the exact lockbox addresses for all scenarios, and what to include in your application package.

How filing addresses work

The National Benefits Center operates four lockbox facilities: Phoenix, Elgin, Chicago, and Dallas. Your address when filing Form I-485 depends on your eligibility category and state of residence. Members of the armed forces stationed abroad follow special procedures outlined on the direct filing addresses webpage.

Always verify addresses on the direct filing addresses page before mailing. Filing locations update periodically, especially after service center transitions.

Important: P.O. Box addresses work only via the U.S. Postal Service. FedEx, UPS, and DHL require physical street addresses.

The following sections break down exactly where to file Form I-485 based on your specific category.

Lockbox address reference table

Each lockbox has two addresses: one for USPS and one for private couriers (FedEx, UPS, DHL). NFB in the address stands for the National Benefits Center, indicating which unit processes your application after you file Form I-485.

With these addresses in hand, the following sections explain which lockbox applies when filing Form I-485 for your specific category.

Employment-based filing addresses

Your filing address depends on whether your immigrant petition (Form I-140) is approved, pending, or being filed concurrently.

With approved or pending I-140

File to the lockbox assigned to your state of residence. This includes residents of Pennsylvania, Illinois, Texas, Tennessee, Oklahoma, South Carolina, North Carolina, West Virginia, Wyoming, Hawaii, and New York:

This applies to all green card categories (EB-1, EB-2, EB-3). For H-1B to green card transitions, your work location determines where you file.

Concurrent I-140 and I-485 filing

When filing Form I-485 concurrently with your immigrant petition, mail both packages to the Dallas Lockbox regardless of state. This applies when your priority date is current. For premium processing, include Form I-907 per the filing instructions.

Family-based filing addresses

If filing based on Form I-130 (Petition for Alien Relative), use the Lockbox Filing Locations Chart for Family-Based Forms.

This covers immediate relatives (spouses, parents, children under 21 of U.S. citizens), family preference categories, and K-1 fiancé(e) visa holders adjusting from nonimmigrant status. When filing Form I-485 with Form I-130, mail both together in one package to your state's designated address.

U.S. citizen petitioners can file the I-130 petition online, then mail the adjustment application separately once accepted.

Special categories

Some applicants don't fit standard charts. These categories have unique filing instructions:

• T/U nonimmigrants, VAWA self-petitioners: Use the filing addresses for VAWA, T, or U forms
• EB-5 investors: Dallas Lockbox using P.O. Box 660168 (not 660867) with attention line "Attn: I-526/E" when filing with Form I-526 or I-526E
• Refugees with asylee status: Follow the NFB chart by state
• Afghan/Iraqi Special Immigrant Visa holders: Phoenix Lockbox with specific attention line per Form I-360 instructions

Always check the Visa Bulletin to confirm your category is current before filing Form I-485.

Filing I-765 and I-131 with I-485

You can file Form I-765 (Application for Employment Authorization) and Form I-131 (Application for Travel Document) with your adjustment application. Include all forms in one package to the same lockbox.

As of April 1, 2024, separate fees are required: $260 for Form I-765 and $630 for Form I-131. Each form requires its own payment in addition to the I-485 filing fee. If you file Form I-485 online, you must submit I-765 and I-131 separately by mail to the same lockbox address that applies to your I-485 category, since these forms cannot be included in an online I-485 submission.

I-485 filing fee

Costs vary by age and filing method:

Pay via card (Form G-1450) or ACH transfer (Form G-1650). Paper checks are no longer accepted unless you qualify for a fee exemption.

What to send with Form I-485

When filing Form I-485, include the following in your package:

• Completed application (use the current edition from the official webpage)
• Payment (Form G-1450 or G-1650)
• Form I-693 (medical examination) in a sealed envelope
• Copy of Form I-797 (Notice of Action) showing petition approval or receipt
• Two passport-style photographs
• Birth certificate with certified English translation
• Form I-485 Supplement J (if based on a prior petition)
• Form G-1145 for e-notification of receipt (optional but recommended)
• Arrival/departure records (Form I-94) if requested

Complete documentation prevents delays in your permanent work visa process.

Online filing option

Online filing is available for stand-alone cases with an approved immigrant petition. Create an account at myaccount.uscis.gov and upload your I-693. Filing Form I-485 online is not available for concurrent filings, immediate relative petitions, or special immigrant cases.

Getting filing help

One misplaced digit in a P.O. Box number sends your package to the wrong lockbox. Mailing to Phoenix instead of Dallas because you misread the state chart means weeks of delay. Using FedEx for a P.O. Box address guarantees rejection before anyone opens your envelope.

Filing Form I-485 involves choosing the right lockbox, assembling dozens of supporting documents, calculating exact fees, and coordinating timing with pending petitions. Families filing together multiply the complexity: each dependent needs their own package with properly calculated fees, all mailed to the same address at the same time.

Lighthouse verifies your filing location based on your category and state, prepares complete document packages with all required forms and fees, and coordinates dependent filings to ensure everything arrives together at the correct lockbox.

Start your green card evaluation today.

Frequently asked questions

Where do I mail Form I-130 and I-485 together?

Use the lockbox chart for family petitions based on your state of residence. Mail both forms in one package to the specified address. The chart varies by petitioner type and geographic region. Filing in the wrong location can delay receipt by weeks.

What should I send with Form I-485?

Include Form I-693 (sealed medical exam), payment via G-1450 or G-1650, two passport photos, your I-797 approval notice, and your birth certificate with translation. Applicants based on an approved immigrant petition should also include Form I-485 Supplement J if applicable. Missing documents trigger requests for evidence that can add months to your processing time.

Where do I send my adjustment of status application?

Filing location depends on your category. Those with approved immigrant petitions file to Phoenix, Elgin, Chicago, or Dallas lockboxes based on state of residence. Immediate relatives use a separate chart. Always verify addresses on the official webpage before mailing, since locations change periodically.

Can I file I-130 online and I-485 by mail?

Yes. Petitioners who are U.S. citizens can file the petition online through their account, then mail the adjustment application separately once the petition is accepted. This two-step approach works for immediate relative cases and allows you to track each form independently.

Does USCIS accept P.O. Box as a mailing address?

Yes, but only via U.S. Postal Service. Private couriers (FedEx, UPS, DHL) require physical street addresses. Each lockbox has separate addresses for U.S. Postal Service delivery versus private couriers listed in official filing charts. Using the wrong address type delays package delivery and can cause rejection.

Where do I mail forms to USCIS?

It depends on the form and category. When filing Form I-485, check the direct filing addresses page for current lockbox locations. Other forms, like the petition for alien relatives, immigrant worker petitions, and employment authorization applications, each have their own filing location charts.