I-485 Supplement J is the supplement that U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) uses to confirm that the job offered in a Form I-140 is still valid, or to request job portability under INA section 204(j), for an employment-based applicant with a Form I-485. The applicant completes Parts 1 to 5 and the employer completes Parts 6 to 9, so both sign. On this page you can fill out Form I-485 Supplement J online on FillingPDF and download or print the completed PDF; USCIS publishes the form and its instructions at uscis.gov.
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What is Form I-485 Supplement J?
Form I-485 Supplement J is the USCIS supplement to Form I-485 that confirms the job offered in the underlying Form I-140 remains valid, or requests job portability under INA section 204(j) to a new, full-time, permanent job offer.
The supplement belongs to employment-based adjustment of status. The Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, is based on a Form I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker. Supplement J tells USCIS that the job offer behind that petition is still available and that you intend to accept it once your Form I-485 is approved. For USCIS, the basis for adjustment under a valid Form I-140 is prospective employment, not current employment, and USCIS does not decide in this process whether you have current work authorization with the prospective employer.
Portability means changing the offer of employment from one job or employer to another. The new job must be in the same or a similar occupational classification as the job in the Form I-140. USCIS weighs the similarity of duties and responsibilities and of education, experience or training requirements, and may consult resources of the Department of Labor.
The form has ten parts: the reason for filing, the applicant's information, contact details and signature, interpreter and preparer sections, the employer's information, the job offer, the employer's signature and a part for additional information. USCIS may use VIBE to validate basic information about the companies listed.
Who needs to file Form I-485 Supplement J?
Employment-based applicants who are filing or have filed Form I-485 as the principal beneficiary of a valid Form I-140 in an immigrant visa category that requires a job offer use Supplement J.
- To confirm the job offer: you file it with your Form I-485 unless you are filing that form at the same time as the Form I-140 or while the Form I-140 is still pending, or your Form I-485 was filed before January 17, 2017. USCIS may ask you to file it again before final processing.
- To request portability: you need a properly filed Form I-485 that has been pending 180 days or more since the receipt date and is based on an approved or pending Form I-140 naming you as principal beneficiary. If the Form I-140 is still pending, USCIS must approve it before it can approve the portability request.
You do not need to file Supplement J if you are seeking or were granted a National Interest Waiver of the job offer requirement, or classification as an alien of extraordinary ability under INA section 203(b)(1)(A).
The employer, either an individual employer or an authorized signatory of a business entity, completes Parts 6 to 9. A parent or legal guardian may sign for an applicant under 14, and a legal guardian may sign for a mentally incompetent person.
When to file Form I-485 Supplement J
To confirm the job offer, file Supplement J when you first file your employment-based Form I-485 (unless you filed it with or while a Form I-140 was pending, or before January 17, 2017), or when USCIS sends a Request for Evidence (RFE) or Notice of Intent to Deny (NOID) asking you to confirm the offer.
To request portability, file only after your Form I-485 was properly filed and has been pending 180 days or more since the receipt date, and one of these applies:
- you received a new, permanent job offer in the same or a similar occupational classification;
- you received an RFE or NOID asking you to confirm that the Form I-140 job or a previously filed Supplement J is still available; or
- you received a NOID because the petitioner withdrew the Form I-140 or went out of business.
USCIS rejects a portability request filed before the 180 days are reached. You can check your case status at www.uscis.gov.
Documents you need
- Portability only: a copy of Form I-797, Notice of Action, showing the receipt date and acceptance of your Form I-485 and that it has been pending 180 days or more. Without it, USCIS checks its records for the receipt number in Part 2.
- Portability, if available: a copy of Form I-797 showing you are the principal beneficiary of an approved or pending Form I-140. Without it, USCIS checks its records for the Form I-140 receipt number.
- Portability, if you lack the Form I-797 evidence: information on the supplement or other secondary evidence that your Form I-485 has been pending 180 days or more and that you are the principal beneficiary of a Form I-140.
- Any other evidence the applicant or employer chooses to show the new job is in the same or a similar occupational classification as the Form I-140 job.
- A full English translation for any document in a foreign language, with the translator's signed certification of completeness, accuracy and competence, printed name, date and contact information.
- Form G-28, only if you file Supplement J online as an attorney or accredited representative.
How to fill out Form I-485 Supplement J
Select the reason for filing
In Part 1, Item 1, select only one box: confirm that the Form I-140 job offer remains valid, or request job portability under INA section 204(j) to a new, full-time, permanent job offer. Type or print in black ink.
Enter your name and mailing address
In Part 2, Item 1, give your current legal name, no nickname. In Item 2, give a U.S. mailing address with any in-care-of name; the instructions say you must have a U.S. address to file.
Enter your A-Number and account number
Item 3 asks for your A-Number, if any. In Item 4, enter a USCIS Online Account Number only if you have a receipt number beginning with IOE; it is not the same as an A-Number.
Enter birth and case details
Items 5 and 6: date of birth (mm/dd/yyyy) and country of birth. Items 7 to 10: the Form I-485 receipt number and filing date if already filed, the Form I-140 receipt number, and whether the Form I-140 is approved (Yes, No or Unknown).
Add contact details and sign
In Part 3, give your daytime telephone number, mobile number and email address if any, then sign and date in Item 4. A parent or legal guardian may sign for an applicant under 14.
Complete the interpreter and preparer parts
If an interpreter read the form to you, Part 4 is completed and signed by the interpreter. If someone other than you prepared Parts 1 to 4, that person completes and signs Part 5; one person acting in both roles completes both.
Describe the employer
In Part 6, Item 1, select Business/Organization or Self/Individual and give the U.S. mailing address (Item 2) and, if different, the physical work address (Item 3). Business entities complete Items 4 to 12, including the EIN and six-digit NAICS code; individual employers complete Items 13 to 17.
Describe the job offer
In Part 7, the employer gives the job title, SOC code, nontechnical description and whether the position is full-time (hours per week if not) and permanent. It also gives the wages offered per hour, week, month or year, and whether and since when the applicant works for the employer.
Have the employer certify and sign
In Part 8, the individual employer or authorized signatory gives name, title and contact details, then signs and dates in Item 6. If the signatory used an interpreter, Part 9 is completed and signed.
Use Part 10 for extra information
If you, the employer or the preparer need more room, use Part 10 or a separate sheet. Put your name and A-Number at the top, cite the page, part and item number, and sign and date each sheet.
Review, sign and download the PDF
Check that every item is complete or marked "N/A", that both signatures are handwritten, and that the evidence is ready. Download or print the completed PDF from FillingPDF and keep a copy for your records.
How to submit Form I-485 Supplement J
USCIS accepts Supplement J by mail (paper) or online.
- By mail: The filing address depends on your situation. With a Form I-485 and without a Form I-140, file it with the Form I-485 at that form's filing address. For a portability request based on a Form I-485 pending 180 days or more, file it at the Form I-485 filing address. In response to an RFE or NOID, send it with your response to the address in that notice. The current addresses are at www.uscis.gov/i-485supj. Print all pages from the same edition, with the edition date and page numbers visible.
- Online: Create or log in to a USCIS online account. You can submit Form I-485 online with Supplement J, or file Supplement J by itself if you already have a pending Form I-485 with a receipt number beginning with IOE (add Form G-28 only if filing as an attorney or accredited representative). Do not file online if you are asking to transfer the underlying basis of a pending employment-based Form I-485.
A filing fee information is on the USCIS Fee Schedule page and in Form G-1055. If USCIS accepts your supplement, you receive a receipt number for Case Status Online. For portability, you may call the USCIS Contact Center at 800-375-5283 (TTY 800-767-1833) 120 days after the date on the receipt notice. Do not mail the supplement to the Paperwork Reduction Act comment address in the instructions.
FillingPDF lets you fill out and download the PDF; submission follows the USCIS channels above.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Filing a portability request before the Form I-485 has been pending 180 days since its receipt date; USCIS rejects it.
- Submitting the supplement unsigned, or with a stamped or typewritten name instead of a handwritten signature, by the applicant or the employer.
- Having only the applicant sign; the instructions require both the applicant and the employer or authorized signatory to sign.
- Entering an attorney's address instead of the employer's physical address, or leaving information out, which can lead to an RFE that delays the Form I-485.
- Mailing a printout with pages from different editions or without the edition date and page numbers visible; USCIS may reject it.
- Filing Supplement J online when asking to transfer the underlying basis of a pending employment-based Form I-485.
- Filing Supplement J when seeking or holding a National Interest Waiver or extraordinary ability classification, where it is not needed.
- Leaving a question blank instead of typing or printing "N/A", or "None" for a numeric answer of zero.
- Entering a NAICS code of fewer than six digits without adding zeros, such as 5133 instead of 513300.
Frequently asked questions
What is I-485 Supplement J used for?
I-485 Supplement J is used by employment-based adjustment applicants either to confirm that the job in their Form I-140 is still valid and available, or to request job portability under INA section 204(j) to a new, full-time, permanent job offer in the same or a similar occupational classification.
Who has to file Supplement J with Form I-485?
Applicants who file Form I-485 as the principal beneficiary of a valid Form I-140 in a category that requires a job offer, unless the I-485 is filed with or while the I-140 is pending, or was filed before January 17, 2017. National Interest Waiver and extraordinary ability applicants do not file it.
How long must my I-485 be pending before I request portability?
At least 180 days since the receipt date. USCIS rejects a portability request filed earlier. The I-485 must also be properly filed and based on an approved or pending Form I-140 that names you as the principal beneficiary.
Does the employer have to sign Supplement J?
Yes. The instructions require both the applicant and the individual employer or authorized signatory of the business employer to sign. The applicant completes Parts 1 to 5 and the employer completes Parts 6 to 9. USCIS rejects an unsigned supplement or one with a stamped or typewritten name.
Can I file I-485 Supplement J online?
Yes. You can submit it online with Form I-485, or by itself if your pending Form I-485 has a receipt number beginning with IOE. Do not file it online to transfer the underlying basis of a pending employment-based Form I-485.
What documents go with a portability request?
A copy of the Form I-797 showing your I-485 receipt date and that it has been pending 180 days or more, and, if available, a Form I-797 for your Form I-140. Without them, you may give secondary evidence, or USCIS may check its records using your receipt numbers.
Where do I mail Supplement J?
Send it with a new Form I-485 to that form's filing address, or to the I-485 filing address for a portability request. If answering an RFE or NOID, use the address in that notice. USCIS lists current addresses at www.uscis.gov/i-485supj.
How can I check the status of Supplement J?
Use the receipt number USCIS issues when it accepts the supplement on Case Status Online. For a portability request, you may call the USCIS Contact Center at 800-375-5283 120 days after the date on the receipt notice.
Can I fill out I-485 Supplement J online on FillingPDF?
Yes. On FillingPDF you can fill out the PDF online and download or print it. FillingPDF is an independent service and does not file the supplement with USCIS; you submit it by mail or online through USCIS.
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