Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status

Special Instructions for Liberian Refugee
Immigration Fairness Applicants
Department of Homeland Security
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

USCIS

Form I-485LRIF

OMB No. 1615-xxxx
Expires xx/xx/xxxx

These are special instructions for applicants filing Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust
Status, based on the Liberian Refugee Immigration Fairness (LRIF) law. You may read more about eligibility on the
LRIF webpage.
If you are filing Form I-485 based on the LRIF law, read the complete instructions for Form I-485 as well as these
special instructions to properly complete your Form I-485.

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Who is Eligible to Adjust Status Based on the LRIF Law?
Liberian National Principal Applicants

In general, you are eligible to adjust status under the LRIF law if you:
•

Properly file Form I-485 during the application period of December 20, 2019, to December 20, 2020 and your
application is received by December 20, 2020;

•

Are a national of Liberia:

•

Have been continuously physically present in the United States from November 20, 2014, to the date you properly
file your Form I-485;

•

Are admissible to the United States for lawful permanent residence or eligible for a waiver of inadmissibility or
other form of relief;

•

Have not been convicted of any aggravated felony or two or more crimes involving moral turpitude; and

•

Have not ordered, incited, assisted or otherwise participated in the persecution of any person on account of race,
religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group or political opinion.

Family Members
In general, you are eligible to adjust status as a family member of a Liberian national applicant if you:
•

Properly file Form I-485 during the application period of December 20, 2019, to December 20, 2020 and your
application is received by December 20, 2020;

•

Are the spouse, unmarried child under 21, or unmarried son or daughter 21 years old or older of a qualifying
Liberian national on the date you file your Form I-485 and on the date USCIS adjudicates your Form I-485;

•

Are admissible to the United States for lawful permanent residence or eligible for a waiver of inadmissibility or
other form of relief;

•

Have not been convicted of any aggravated felony or two or more crimes involving moral turpitude; and

•

Have not ordered, incited, assisted or otherwise participated in the persecution of any person on account of race,
religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group or political opinion.

The same bars to adjustment and inadmissibility grounds apply to family members as to Liberian nationals applying for
adjustment based on the LRIF law.

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Grounds of Inadmissibility
If you are applying to adjust status based on the LRIF law, all of the grounds of inadmissibility apply to you except for:
•

Public charge (INA 212(a)(4));

•

Labor certification (INA 212(a)(5));

•

Aliens present without admission or parole (INA 212(a)(6)(A)); and

•

Documentation requirements (INA 212(a)(7)(A)).

If you are inadmissible, the law may allow you to apply for a waiver or other form of relief of certain grounds of
inadmissibility that can overcome the ground of inadmissibility. You may apply for a waiver or other form of relief by
using Form I-601, Application for Waiver of Grounds of Inadmissibility, and Form I-212, Application for Permission
to Reapply for Admission into the United States after Deportation or Removal. If we grant your waiver or request for
another form of relief, USCIS may approve your application for adjustment of status if you are otherwise eligible.

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How to Complete Form I-485

Each applicant must file their own Form I-485. There are no derivatives.

If you are applying based on the LRIF law, follow the general instructions for completing Form I-485.
NOTE: On your Form I-485, in Part 2., choose “Other Eligibility” under Item Number 1.g. In the text box, write
“LRIF” to indicate you are applying as a Liberian national applicant. If you are applying as a family member of an LRIFeligible Liberian national, write “LRIF family member” in the text box.

When Should I File Form I-485?

You must file Form I-485 and it must be received by December 20, 2020.

If you are applying as the family member of an LRIF-eligible Liberian national, you may file your Form I-485:
•

Together with the LRIF-eligible Liberian national’s Form I-485; or

•

After the LRIF-eligible Liberian national filed a Form I-485 that remains pending a final decision or was approved
by USCIS.

What Evidence You Must Submit with Form I-485
Liberian National Applicants
If you are filing Form I-485 based on the LRIF law, you must submit evidence showing you meet certain requirements
specific to this immigrant category. Therefore, in addition to the evidence listed in the main Form I-485 instructions, you
must also submit evidence:
•

Of being a Liberian national;

•

Of all of your arrivals to and departures from the United States; and

•

That you have been continuously physically present in the United States from Nov. 20, 2014, to the date you
properly file your Form I-485.

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Evidence of Liberian Nationality
You are required to submit evidence to prove you are a Liberian national. Examples of evidence that demonstrate
Liberian nationality include but are not limited to:
•

Unexpired Liberian passport; or

•

Liberian certificate of naturalization.

Evidence of Arrivals and Departures

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Use Part 14. to list all arrivals to and departures from the United States before your last arrival. Provide evidence of
all arrivals to and departures from the United States before November 20, 2014, until the date you filed this application.
Provide any evidence showing residence in the United States from the date(s) you arrived and established residence until
the date you filed this application. If USCIS approves your application, the date of lawful permanent residence will be
recorded as either the earliest arrival date in the United States from which you can establish you have been a resident in
the United States, or November 20, 2014 (if you cannot establish an earlier arrival date).

Evidence of Continuous Physical Presence

You must submit evidence that you were physically present in the United States for a continuous period from November
20, 2014, until the date you filed your Form I-485 based on the LRIF law. This required period of physical presence will
be considered “continuous” despite one or more absences from the United States for one or more periods that totaled 180
days or less in the aggregate. You may submit as many documents as necessary to establish continuous physical presence
since November 20, 2014. Examples include, but are not limited to:
•

Copy of passport pages with nonimmigrant visa, admission, or parole stamps;

•

Form I-94, Arrival/Departure Record;

•

Income tax records;

•

Mortgage deeds or leases;

•

Insurance premiums and policies;

•

Utility bills;

•

Birth, marriage, and death certificate for immediate family members;

•

Medical records;

•

Bank records;

•

School records;

•

All types of receipts that contain identifying information about you;

•

Census records;

•

Social Security records;

•

Employment records;

•

Military records;

•

Draft records;

•

Car registrations; and

•

Union membership records.

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Family Members
If you are applying as the spouse, child, or unmarried son or daughter of an LRIF-eligible Liberian national, in addition to
the evidence listed in the main Form I-485 instructions, you must also submit evidence:
•

Of your relationship to an LRIF-eligible Liberian national (for example, marriage certificate or birth certificate);

•

You terminated all prior marriages, and all prior marriages of the LRIF-eligible Liberian national, if applicable;

•

Of all of your arrivals to and departures from the United States; and

•

The LRIF-eligible Liberian national has previously filed a Form I-485 based on the LRIF law (for example, a
photocopy of the Form I-797, Receipt Notice, for the Liberian national’s Form I-485) if he or she is not filing with
you.

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Evidence of Arrivals and Departures

Use Part 14. to list all arrivals to and departures from the United States prior to your last arrival. Provide evidence of all
arrivals to and departures from the United States. Provide any evidence showing residence from the date(s) of your arrival
when residence was established until the date you filed this application. If USCIS approves your application, the date of
lawful permanent residence will be recorded as either the earliest arrival date in the United States from which you can
establish you have been a resident in the United States, or the receipt date of your Form I-485 (if you cannot establish an
earlier arrival date).

Where to File

Please see our website at www.uscis.gov/i-485 or call our USCIS Contact Center at 1-800-375-5283 for the most current
information about where to file this application. For TTY (deaf or hard of hearing) call: 1-800-767-1833.
Employment Authorization

When you have a pending Form I-485, you may apply for employment authorization by filing a Form I-765, Application
for Employment Authorization. You may file Form I-765 together with your Form I-485 or after you file your Form
I-485. If you submit Form I-765 after filing your Form I-485 based on the LRIF law, you must include proof that the Form
I-485 is pending (for example, a photocopy of the Form I-797, Receipt Notice, for your Form I-485).
NOTE: If you are applying for adjustment of status based on the LRIF law, you should enter (c)(9) as your eligibility
category when completing Part 2., Item Number 27. of your Form I-765.

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