Last checked: 24 October 2026
Green card after 1 year (I-485)
You must apply
U.S. law requires refugees to apply for permanent residence after at least 1 year of physical presence [source].
Eligibility
- Admitted as a refugee under INA section 207
- Physically present in the USA when filing, and for at least 1 year after admission
- Refugee status not terminated; not already a permanent resident
- Admissible, or eligible for a waiver (Form I-602)
What to send (principal applicant)
- Form I-485. Principal refugees pay no filing or biometrics fee [source].
- Proof of refugee admission (such as I-94), evidence of 1 year presence, two passport-style photos, photo ID, birth certificate if available [source].
- Vaccination record part of Form I-693 [source].
- Form I-602 waiver, if applicable [source].
Family members
Derivative spouses and children follow similar rules, but USCIS points derivatives to the Fee Schedule for the I-485 fee [source]. Whether derivatives pay: not stated clearly by source.
Travelling while your I-485 is pending: see Refugee travel document [source].