Employment-Based Adjustment of Status Checklist

Employment-Based Adjustment of Status Checklist

For Applicants with Approved I-140 (Priority Date Not Current)

When your priority date becomes current, we will prepare your permanent residence (green card) application for you, and for your spouse and minor children (if applicable). At that stage, you will need to provide certain official documents.

Since some of these documents may take time to obtain, we recommend you start gathering them now.

Note: You do not need to send these documents to us until requested.

Checklist of Required Documents

1. Birth Certificates

Each applicant (you, spouse, children) must provide a long-form birth certificate that includes:

• Full Name of Applicant
• Date of Birth (Month, Day, Year)
• Place of Birth (City, State/Province, Country)
• Full Name of Mother (first and last name spelled out — maiden or married name acceptable)
• Full Name of Father (first and last name spelled out)

Important Notes:

• Must have been registered within one year of birth.
• Short-form, abridged, wallet-sized, or consulate-issued certificates are not acceptable.
• Check the U.S. State Department Reciprocity Table for country-specific requirements.

If a Birth Certificate is Not Available or Incomplete:

• Provide two notarized affidavits of birth (from parents, or if deceased, from a close older relative with personal knowledge).
• Provide a Certificate of Non-Availability from the government authority, stating why the record is unavailable.

2. Proof of Marriage (if applicable)

• Copy of your official marriage certificate issued by the appropriate authority.
• If no official record exists, affidavits may be required.

3. Proof of Divorce or Death (if applicable)

• Copies of divorce decrees or death certificates related to any prior marriages for you or your spouse.

4. Translations (if applicable)

• Any document not in English must be submitted with a full English translation.
• Translation can be prepared by anyone except a family member.
• Translator must certify accuracy using language such as:

Certification of Translation
I, [Name], certify that I am fluent in English and [foreign language], and that the attached translation is a complete and accurate translation of the attached [document].

Signature: ______________________
Date: ______________________

Tips for a Smooth Process

• Start collecting documents now, even though you don’t need to submit them yet.
• Verify that names are consistent across documents (birth, marriage, passports, etc.).
• If documents are delayed, begin requesting Certificates of Non-Availability or affidavits early.
• Keep both originals and certified copies safe for submission.

Action Item for You:
Gather your required civil documents (birth, marriage, divorce/death, translations) as outlined above, and be prepared to submit them once your priority date becomes current.

‍