Adjustment of Status: How to Get a Green Card Without Leaving the United States

For thousands of immigrants living in Fort Worth, Dallas, and across the DFW Metroplex, the dream of permanent residency can feel distant — especially for those who fear that leaving the country means risking everything they have built here. The good news is that many eligible immigrants can apply for a green card without ever boarding a plane. This process, known as Adjustment of Status (AOS), allows certain foreign nationals already present in the United States to become Lawful Permanent Residents without going through consular processing abroad.

Understanding how AOS works — who qualifies, what forms to file, and what mistakes to avoid — is the first step toward securing your family's future in the United States.

What Is Adjustment of Status?

Adjustment of Status is the legal process by which an eligible immigrant already living in the United States changes their immigration classification to that of a Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR) — commonly known as a green card holder. Instead of leaving the country to attend an immigrant visa interview at a U.S. consulate or embassy abroad, the applicant completes the entire process within the United States through U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

This pathway is especially valuable for immigrants in Texas who have established roots in their communities, hold jobs, own homes, or have U.S.-citizen family members and do not wish to risk extended separation from their lives here in the DFW area.

Who Is Eligible to File for Adjustment of Status?

Not every immigrant qualifies for AOS. To be eligible, you must generally meet the following requirements:

• Have an approved immigrant visa petition — typically a Form I-130 (family-based) or I-140 (employment-based), or belong to a category with an immediately available visa.
• Have an immigrant visa that is immediately available — your priority date must be current according to the monthly Visa Bulletin published by the U.S. Department of State.
• Have been inspected and admitted or paroled into the United States — meaning you entered the country lawfully at an authorized port of entry.
• Be physically present in the United States at the time of filing your I-485 application.
• Not be subject to certain bars to adjustment — such as accruing unlawful presence, having a prior removal or deportation order, or other grounds of inadmissibility under immigration law.

Common qualifying categories include: immediate relatives of U.S. citizens (spouses, unmarried children under 21, and parents), employment-sponsored immigrants, diversity visa lottery winners, and certain special immigrant categories. Immigrants who entered without inspection generally cannot use the AOS pathway and must explore alternative options with a qualified immigration professional.

Key USCIS Forms Required for Adjustment of Status

Filing for Adjustment of Status involves submitting a package of USCIS forms, each serving a distinct and important purpose:

• Form I-485 — Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status. This is the central green card application form.
• Form I-864 — Affidavit of Support. Required in family-based cases to demonstrate the petitioner's financial ability to support the immigrant above the federal poverty guideline.
• Form I-765 — Application for Employment Authorization Document (EAD). Allows you to work legally in the United States while your I-485 is pending with USCIS.
• Form I-131 — Application for Travel Document (Advance Parole). Allows you to travel outside the U.S. while your green card application is pending without abandoning it.
• Form I-693 — Report of Immigration Medical Examination. Completed by a USCIS-designated civil surgeon, this form documents your health history and required vaccinations.

Filing fees and documentation requirements vary by case type, applicant age, and current USCIS fee schedules. Many families in Fort Worth and Tarrant County find it essential to work with an experienced immigration professional to ensure that all forms are completed accurately and all supporting documents are correctly assembled before submission.

Step-by-Step: The AOS Filing Process in Texas

The Adjustment of Status process generally follows these major steps:

1. Confirm immigrant visa availability. Check the most recent Visa Bulletin to confirm that your priority date is current for your preference category and country of birth.
2. Gather all supporting documents. This typically includes birth certificates, passport copies, proof of qualifying relationship (for family-based cases), tax returns, evidence of lawful entry into the U.S., and police clearance certificates from all countries where you have resided.
3. Complete all required forms accurately. Fill out the I-485 and all concurrent forms (I-765, I-131, I-864, I-693) with care. Errors, omissions, and inconsistencies between forms are a leading cause of Requests for Evidence (RFEs) and processing delays.
4. Submit your complete filing package to USCIS. Mail your full petition packet to the appropriate USCIS lockbox facility based on your location, case type, and filing category.
5. Attend your biometrics appointment. After receipt of your application, USCIS will schedule you for fingerprinting and a photograph at a nearby Application Support Center (ASC).
6. Attend your AOS interview. Many applicants — particularly those in family-based cases — are scheduled for an in-person interview at the local USCIS field office. The Dallas Field Office at 8101 N. Stemmons Freeway serves applicants from the DFW Metroplex, including Tarrant County and Fort Worth.
7. Receive your USCIS decision. USCIS will approve your green card, issue an RFE requesting additional documentation, or in some cases schedule further background review before making a determination.

How Long Does Adjustment of Status Take?

Processing times vary significantly depending on the USCIS field office and the current agency backlog. Immediate relative cases — for spouses, children, and parents of U.S. citizens — generally move through the process faster because no numerical visa cap applies to this category. For other preference categories, applicants may wait years before a visa becomes available in the Visa Bulletin before they can even file the I-485. Once the I-485 is submitted, processing times at the Dallas Field Office have ranged from 8 to 20+ months in recent years, depending on case complexity and caseload. Monitoring your case through the USCIS online portal and responding promptly to any written notices is essential to keeping your application moving forward.

Common Mistakes That Can Delay or Deny Your AOS Case

Even well-intentioned applicants make errors that can push their cases back by months or result in outright denial. The most frequent and costly mistakes include:

• Traveling internationally without Advance Parole. Departing the United States while your I-485 is pending — without a valid Advance Parole (I-131) document in hand — is legally treated as an abandonment of your green card application.
• Failing to notify USCIS of an address change. You must update your address using Form AR-11 within 10 days of moving. Missing a USCIS notice can cause serious problems, including a denial for failure to appear.
• Submitting incomplete or inconsistent forms. Discrepancies between your I-485 and supporting documents frequently trigger RFEs, adding months to your processing timeline.
• Missing biometrics or interview appointments without contacting USCIS in advance to request rescheduling.
• Failing to disclose prior immigration violations or criminal history. USCIS conducts comprehensive background checks, and any undisclosed material information is treated as misrepresentation — a serious ground of inadmissibility.
• Submitting a deficient Affidavit of Support. An incomplete or financially inadequate Form I-864 is among the most common causes of RFEs in family-based Adjustment of Status cases.

Why Fort Worth Families Choose Local Immigration Professionals

Adjustment of Status filings are not one-size-fits-all. Every family's immigration history is unique, and the details that make one applicant's case straightforward can create significant complications in another's. Immigration professionals with hands-on experience in Texas cases understand the specific processing patterns of the Dallas USCIS Field Office, know which documentation gaps most often trigger RFEs, and can thoroughly prepare clients for their in-person interviews.

Fort Worth's immigrant population has grown significantly over the past decade. Families from Mexico, Central America, Vietnam, India, the Philippines, Nigeria, and dozens of other countries are building lives and raising children in Tarrant County. Demand for reliable, bilingual immigration support across the DFW Metroplex continues to grow — and the cost of a filing error has never been more consequential. Getting it right the first time is always the better path.

Families in the Fort Worth and DFW area navigating the Adjustment of Status process can find trusted, knowledgeable support at IKAR Tax and Investments Inc, a full-service immigration, tax, and business consulting firm proudly serving the local community. Their bilingual team welcomes consultations at their office at 4200 South Fwy., Suite 2520, Fort Worth, TX 76115, and is available by phone at (817) 305-3433 to answer your questions, review your eligibility, and help you build the strongest possible application for permanent residency — without ever having to leave Texas.