Applying for Lawful Permanent Resident Status as an Asylee

There are strict guidelines when applying for lawful permanent resident status as an asylee based eligibility, application and supporting evidence. Unlike people seeking refugee permanent residence status, people seeking asylees aren’t required to apply after one year. Although, according to the U.S. Citizenship Immigration Service (USCIS), it may be in people’s best interest to seek permanent residence, commonly known as green card status. Asylees without green cards may have to return to their home country if one of many reasons occurs. For instance, they no longer qualify for asylum status, conditions change in their home country or the definition of an asylee changes.

Meeting 5 Eligibility Criteria

People lawfully seeking permanent residence status must meet five criteria after residing in the U.S for at least one year. For instance, asylees have to physically live in the country without leaving the country after receiving asylum status. This means that people can’t leave for vacations, business trips or to return home for at least a year. Asylees can’t relocate to another country or abandon their asylum status. According to USCIS, people must continue to be admissible to the U.S. Also, people must continue to meet the definition of an asylee.  

Filling Out Form I-485

Asylees must complete Form I-485, also called the Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status. People need to make sure that they complete current edition of the application. For instance, as of 2010, the form to complete is marked 12/03/2009 so people will fill out that form until there’s another edition. Any previous edition from prior years won’t be accepted by the USCIS.

Including Supporting Evidence

The application process includes proving supporting evidence for permanent residence such as Form I-693 called the Report of Medical Exam and Vaccination Record. The application must be signed by a civil surgeon and proves that asylees aren’t inadmissible because of public health reasons. Asylees have to include the I-485 and fingerprint fees that are needed to process the applications. They also must include the application and fingerprint fees. Other forms include an Application by Refugee for Waiver of Grounds of Excludability, a completed HIV waiver supplement and a copy of the I-94. If people ages 14 to 79 years old are applying for green cards they must include the Biographic Information Sheet. Certified court records must be included, if asylees were arrested in the past. Also, two passport-style photos are required too.