Supplement J, Confirmation of Bona Fide Offer or Request for Job Portability Under Section 204(j)

Instructions for Supplement J, Confirmation of Bona Fide
Job Offer or Request for Job Portability
Under INA Section 205(j)
Department of Homeland Security
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

USCIS
Form I-485

OMB No. 1615-0023
Expires 03/31/2027

You
must read these Instructions if you are filing Form I-485, Supplement J, Confirmation of Bona Fide Job Offer or

Request for Job Portability Under INA Section 204(j) (Supplement J), to either confirm that the job offered to you in
Form I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker, that is the basis of your Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent
Residence or Adjust Status, remains available to you or to request job portability under the Immigration and Nationality
Act (INA) section 204(j).

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What Is the Purpose of Supplement J?

You must use Supplement J if you are an employment-based applicant for adjustment of status who is filing or has
previously filed Form I-485 as the principal beneficiary of a valid Form I-140 in an employment-based immigrant visa
category that requires a job offer, and you now seek, in connection with your Form I-485, to:
•

Confirm that the job offered to you in Form I-140 remains a bona fide job offer that you intend to accept once your
Form I-485 is approved; or

•

Request job portability under INA section 204(j) to a new, full-time, permanent job offer that you intend
to accept once your Form I-485 is approved. Portability means to change the offer of employment from
one job or employer to another job or employer. The new job offer must be in the same or a similar occupational
classification as the job offered to you in Form I-140 that is the basis of your Form I-485.

NOTE: In adjudicating Supplement J, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) does not make a
determination whether you have current work authorization with the prospective employer. The basis for adjustment
of status to lawful permanent resident under a valid Form I-140 is not actual (current) employment. Rather, the basis
is prospective employment. Therefore, the adjudication of Supplement J, for applicants requesting job portability
under INA section 204(j), is primarily limited to a determination of whether you have a bona fide job offer from a U.S.
employer that is in the same or a similar occupational classification as the position for which the underlying Form I-140
was filed and approved.
NOTE: Individuals seeking or granted a National Interest Waiver of the job offer requirement and individuals seeking or
granted classification as an alien of extraordinary ability under INA section 203(b)(1)(A) do not need to file Supplement J.
Because these employment-based immigrant visa categories are not tied to a specific job offer, individuals seeking or
granted classification as an alien of extraordinary ability or seeking or granted a National Interest Waiver of the job offer
requirement do not have to file Supplement J when filing Form I-485 or to request job portability under INA section 204(j).

Who May File Supplement J?
Unless you are filing Form I-485 at the same time with a Form I-140 or while a Form I-140 is still pending that names you
as the principal beneficiary, you must file Supplement J at the time you file your Form I-485 to confirm that the job offered
to you in the underlying Form I-140 is still bona fide and available to you. Additionally, you must file Supplement J to
request job portability if you are eligible. USCIS may request that you file Supplement J again prior to final processing of
your Form I-485.
To request job portability to a new, permanent job offer under INA section 204(j), you must have a properly filed Form
I-485 that:
1. Has been pending with USCIS for 180 days or more since the receipt date; and
2. Is based on an approved or pending Form I-140 that names you as the principal beneficiary.
I-485 Supplement J Instructions 08/28/24

If the underlying Form I-140 is currently pending with USCIS and your Form I-485 has been pending with USCIS for 180
days or more, you may still file Supplement J to request portability to a new, permanent job offer. However, please know
that USCIS must first adjudicate and approve the Form I-140 prior to approving your portability request, if otherwise
eligible.

When Should You File Supplement J?
If you are filing Supplement J to confirm that the job offer in the underlying Form I-140 is bona fide and still
available to you, you must submit Supplement J when:

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•

You initially file your employment-based Form I-485 with USCIS unless you are filing Form I-485 at the same
time as Form I-140 or while the Form I-140 is still pending, or if your Form I-485 was filed prior to January 17,
2017; or

•

You have received a Request for Evidence (RFE) or a Notice of Intent to Deny (NOID) from USCIS requesting
confirmation that the job offer in the underlying Form I-140 is bona fide and still available to you or, if applicable,
that the job offer you have previously ported to under INA section 204(j) is bona fide and still available to you.

NOTE: You do not have to submit Supplement J at the time you file Form I-485 together with Form I-140. In
adjudicating Form I-140, USCIS examines whether the job offer is bona fide. If Form I-140 is approved, USCIS may
consider the approved Form I-140 and supporting documents, along with your filed Form I-485, as prima facie evidence
that the job offer is bona fide and that you, the applicant, intend to accept the job offer if your Form I-485 is approved.
However, depending on factors, such as the length of time it takes to adjudicate the underlying Form I-140 and your
filed Form I-485, USCIS may request that you submit Supplement J to confirm that the job offer in the underlying Form
I-140 is bona fide and still available to you prior to final processing of your Form I-485, or that you have ported to a new,
permanent job offer under INA section 204(j).
If you are filing Supplement J to request job portability to a new, permanent job offer under INA section 204(j),
you may file Supplement J only after your Form I-485 was properly filed and has remained pending for 180 days or
more since the receipt date, and:
•

You have received a new, permanent job offer from a U.S. employer that is in the same or similar occupational
classification as the job offered to you in the underlying Form I-140, and now you would like to request that the
new job offer be used in connection with your eligibility to adjust status to that of lawful permanent resident;

•

You have received an RFE or a NOID from USCIS in connection with your pending Form I-485 asking for
confirmation that the job offered to you in the underlying Form I-140 or a previously filed Supplement J is still
available to you; or

•

You have received a NOID from USCIS regarding your Form I-485 because the petitioner has withdrawn the
Form I-140 filed on your behalf, or the petitioner has gone out of business.

If you are requesting job portability under INA section 204(j), USCIS will reject Supplement J if you file it before your
Form I-485 has been pending for 180 days or more since the receipt date. You can check your case status online at
www.uscis.gov.

I-485 Supplement J Instructions 08/28/24

What Evidence Must You Submit With Supplement J?
1. If you are filing Supplement J to confirm that the job offer represented in the underlying Form I-140 is bona fide, then
you, the applicant, only need to complete Parts 1., 2., 3., and 4. of Supplement J and have the Form I-140 petitioner
complete Parts 5., 6., 7., and 8.
2. If you are filing Supplement J to request job portability under INA section 204(j), you, the applicant, must complete
Parts 1., 2., 3., and 4., and the employer offering a new permanent job must complete Parts 5., 6., and 7. In addition,
you must submit the following documents with Supplement J:

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A. A copy of Form I-797, Notice of Action, establishing the receipt date and acceptance of your Form I-485 under
INA section 245, which shows that your Form I-485 has been pending for 180 days or more. If you do not have
such documentation, USCIS will review the electronic record for the Form I-485 receipt number provided in
Part 2. of Supplement J and/or any other USCIS records for evidence that you have filed a Form I-485 that has
remained pending for 180 days or more; and
B. If available, a copy of Form I-797 showing that you are the principal beneficiary of an approved or still pending
Form I-140. If you do not have such documentation, USCIS will review the electronic record for the Form I-140
receipt number provided in Part 2. of Supplement J and/or any other USCIS records for evidence that you are the
principal beneficiary of an approved or still pending Form I-140.
NOTE: If you do not have the evidence listed in Items A. or B. above, you may provide information on Supplement J
or other secondary evidence to demonstrate that you have filed Form I-485 which has been pending for 180 days or more
since the receipt date, and that you are the principal beneficiary of an approved or still pending Form I-140. Failure to
provide the evidence listed above or secondary evidence may result in delayed processing or denial of your request for job
portability.
NOTE: USCIS will review Supplement J in assessing whether the new job offer is in the same or a similar occupational
classification as the job in the underlying Form I-140. The applicant and/or employer may submit any other evidence that
is relevant in showing the new job is in the same or a similar occupational classification as the job specified in Form I-140.

How Does USCIS Determine What Qualifies as a Same or Similar Occupational Classification?
To determine whether the new job qualifies as the same or similar occupational classification as the job in the approved
permanent labor certification (if applicable) and Form I-140, USCIS will review the totality of the record, including
Supplement J and any additional evidence submitted by the applicant and/or employer.
In determining whether the new job is in the same or a similar occupational classification as the job specified in Form I-140,
USCIS will consider factors, including, but not limited to:
•

The similarity of the job duties and responsibilities; and/or

•

The similarity of the educational, experience, and/or training requirements.

USCIS may refer to resources published by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) and its Bureau of Labor Statistics,
or other relevant resources, to assist in determining whether the new offer of employment is in the same or similar
occupational classification. These resources include:
•

DOL Occupational Outlook Handbook at www.bls.gov/ooh;

•

DOL O*NET system at www.onetonline.org; and

•

Standard Occupational Classification system used by DOL’s Occupational Employment Statistics program at
www.bls.gov/soc.

I-485 Supplement J Instructions 08/28/24

These resources contain detailed information on job titles, duties, rates of pay, and educational, experience, and/or
training requirements. In many cases, the resources do provide information on similar or related occupations. Applicants
may also use any of these resources or other relevant evidence to demonstrate that the new job is in the same or similar
occupational classification as the job specified in Form I-140.
USCIS may request additional information if Supplement J is not fully completed or evidence submitted with Supplement
J does not establish that the new job is in the same or a similar occupational classification as the job specified in Form
I-140.

General Instructions

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We provide free forms through the USCIS website. To view, print, or complete our forms, you should use the latest
version of Adobe Reader, which you can download for free at http://get.adobe.com/reader/. If you do not have internet
access, you may call the USCIS Contact Center and ask that we mail a form to you.
Signature. Each supplement must be properly signed by both the applicant and an individual employer or authorized
signatory of the business entity employer and filed. For all signatures on this supplement, USCIS will not accept a
stamped or typewritten name in place of a signature. If you are under 14 years of age, your parent or legal guardian
may sign the supplement on your behalf. A legal guardian may also sign for a mentally incompetent person. If your
supplement is not signed, or if the signature is not valid, we will reject your supplement. See 8 CFR 103.2(a)(7)(ii)(A).
Validity of Signatures. USCIS will consider a photocopied, faxed, or scanned copy of an original handwritten signature
as valid for filing purposes. The photocopy, fax, or scan must be of the original document containing the handwritten ink
signature.
Filing Fee. There is no filing fee for Supplement J.

Evidence. At the time of filing, you must submit all evidence and supporting documentation listed in the What Evidence
Must You Submit With Supplement J section of these Instructions.
Biometric Services Appointment. USCIS may require you to appear for an interview or provide biometrics (fingerprints,
photograph, and/or signature) at any time to verify your identity, obtain additional information, and conduct background
and security checks, including a check of criminal history records maintained by the Federal Bureau of Investigation
(FBI), before making a decision on your application or petition. If we determine that a biometric services appointment
is necessary, we will send you an appointment notice with the date, time, and location of your appointment. If you are
currently overseas, your notice will instruct you to contact a U.S. Embassy, U.S. Consulate, or USCIS office outside the
United States to schedule an appointment.
At your biometrics appointment, you must sign an oath reaffirming that:
1. You provided or authorized all information in the supplement;
2. You reviewed and understood all of the information contained in, and submitted with, your supplement; and
3. All of this information was complete, true, and correct at the time of filing.
If you do not attend your biometric services appointment, we may deny your supplement.
Copies. You should submit legible photocopies of requested documents unless the Instructions specifically instruct you to
submit an original document. USCIS may request an original document at any time during our process. If we request an
original document from you, we will return it to you after USCIS determines it no longer needs the original.
NOTE: If you submit original documents when they are not required or requested, USCIS may destroy them after we
receive them.
Translations. If you submit a document with information in a foreign language, you must also submit a full English
translation. The translator must sign a certification that the English language translation is complete and accurate, and that
they are competent to translate from the foreign language into English. The certification must also include their signature,
printed name, the signature date, and their contact information.

I-485 Supplement J Instructions 08/28/24

How To Complete Supplement J
1. Type or print legibly in black ink.
2. If you need extra space to complete any item within this supplement, use the space provided in Part 9. Additional
Information or attach a separate sheet of paper. Type or print your name and Alien Registration Number (A-Number)
(if any) at the top of each sheet; indicate the Page Number, Part Number, and Item Number to which your answer
refers; and sign and date each sheet.
3. Answer all questions fully and accurately. If a question does not apply to you (for example, if you have never been
married and the question asks “Provide the name of your current spouse”), type or print “N/A,” unless otherwise
directed. If your answer to a question which requires a numeric response is zero or none (for example, “How many
children do you have” or “How many times have you departed the United States”), type or print “None,” unless
otherwise directed.

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4. USCIS Online Account Number. You will only have a USCIS Online Account Number (OAN) if you previously
filed a form that has a receipt number that begins with IOE. If you filed the form online, you can find your OAN in
your account profile. If you mailed us the form, you can find your OAN at the top of the Account Access Notice we
sent you. If you do not have a receipt number that begins with IOE, you do not have an OAN. The OAN is not the
same as an A-Number.
5. Country of Birth and Country of Citizenship. Part 2., Item Number 6. Provide the name of the country of your
birth and the name of the country of your citizenship. Use the current names of the country of your birth and country
of your citizenship. If you do not have citizenship in any country, type or print “stateless” and provide an explanation
in Part 9. Additional Information.
6. Part 3. Applicant’s Statement, Contact Information, Certification, and Signature. Select the appropriate box to
indicate whether you read this supplement yourself. If someone assisted you in completing the supplement, select the
box indicating that you used a preparer. Further, you must sign and date your supplement and provide your daytime
telephone number, mobile telephone number (if any), and email address (if any). Every supplement MUST contain
the signature of the applicant. A stamped or typewritten name in place of a signature is not acceptable.
7. Part 4. Contact Information, Declaration, and Signature of the Person Preparing this Supplement, if Other
Than the Applicant. This section must contain the signature of the person who completed this supplement, if other
than you, the applicant. If the person who completed this supplement is associated with a business or organization,
that person should complete the business or organization name and address information. Anyone who helped
you complete this supplement MUST sign and date the supplement. A stamped or typewritten name in place of
a signature is not acceptable. If the person who helped you prepare your supplement is an attorney or accredited
representative, he or she may be obliged to also submit a completed Form G-28, Notice of Entry of Appearance as
Attorney or Accredited Representative, along with this supplement.
8. Part 7. Statement, Contact Information, Certification, and Signature of the Individual Employer or Authorized
Signatory of the Business Entity Employer. If applicable, the individual employer or authorized signatory of the
business entity employer should select the box to indicate whether he or she read this supplement himself or herself
in English. If applicable, he or she should select the box to indicate if someone prepared this supplement for him
or her. Further, he or she must sign and date this supplement and provide his or her daytime telephone number,
mobile telephone number (if any), and email address (if any). Every supplement MUST contain the signature of the
individual employer or authorized signatory of the business entity employer. A stamped or typewritten name in place
of a signature is not acceptable.

I-485 Supplement J Instructions 08/28/24

9. Part 8. Contact Information, Declaration, and Signature of the Person Preparing this Supplement, if Other
Than the Individual Employer or Authorized Signatory of the Business Entity Employer. This section must
contain the signature of the person who completed this supplement, if other than the individual employer or authorized
signatory. If the person who completed this supplement for the individual employer’s or authorized signatory’s behalf
is associated with a business or organization, that person should complete the business or organization name and
address information. Anyone who helped the individual employer or authorized signatory prepare this supplement
MUST sign and date the supplement. A stamped or typewritten name in place of a signature is not acceptable. If
the person who helped the individual employer or authorized signatory prepare this supplement is an attorney or
accredited representative, he or she may be obliged to also submit a completed Form G-28, Notice of Entry of
Appearance as Attorney or Accredited Representative, along with this supplement.

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We recommend that you print or save a copy of your completed supplement
to review in the future and for your records.

Where To File?

Please see our website at www.uscis.gov/i-485supj for the most current information about where to file this supplement.

Address Change

If you are not a U.S. citizen, you must notify USCIS of your new address within 10 days of moving from your
previous residence. For information on changing your address, go to our website at www.uscis.gov/addresschange, or
call the USCIS Contact Center.
NOTE: Do not submit a change of address request to the USCIS Lockbox.

Processing Information

You must have a United States address to file this supplement.
USCIS will reject any Supplement J that is not signed by the applicant and the individual employer or authorized signatory
of the business entity employer and issue you a notice that Supplement J is deficient. You may correct the deficiency and
resubmit Supplement J. Supplement J is not considered properly filed until USCIS accepts it.
Initial Processing. Once USCIS accepts your supplement we will check it for completeness. If you do not properly
complete this supplement, you will not establish a basis for your eligibility and USCIS may reject or deny your
supplement.
Requests for More Information. USCIS may request that you provide more information or evidence to support your
supplement. We may also request that you provide the originals of any copies you submit. If we request an original
document from you, we will return it to you after USCIS determines it is no longer needed.
Requests for Interview. We may request that you appear at a USCIS office for an interview based on your supplement.
During your interview, USCIS may require you to provide your biometrics to verify your identity and/or update
background and security checks.
Decision. The decision on Supplement J involves a determination of whether you have established eligibility for the
immigration benefit you are seeking. USCIS will notify you of our decision in writing.

I-485 Supplement J Instructions 08/28/24

USCIS Forms and Information
To ensure you are using the latest version of this supplement, visit the USCIS website at www.uscis.gov where you can
obtain the latest USCIS forms and immigration-related information. If you do not have internet access, you may order
USCIS forms by calling the USCIS Contact Center at 1-800-375-5283. The USCIS Contact Center provides information
in English and Spanish. For TTY (deaf or hard of hearing) call: 1-800-767-1833.
Instead of waiting in line for assistance at your local USCIS office, you can schedule an online at www.uscis.gov. Select
“Schedule an Appointment” and follow the screen prompts to set up your appointment. Once you finish scheduling an
appointment, the system will generate an appointment notice for you.

Penalties

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If you knowingly and willfully falsify or conceal a material fact or submit a false document with your Supplement J, we
will deny your Supplement J and may deny any other immigration benefit. In addition, you will face severe penalties
provided by law and may be subject to criminal prosecution.

DHS Privacy Notice

AUTHORITIES: The information requested on this application, and the associated evidence, is collected under
Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) section 204(j).
PURPOSE: The primary purpose for providing the requested information on this application is to either confirm that the
job offered to you in Form I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker, that is the basis of your Form I-485, Application
to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, remains available to you or to request job portability under the INA
section 204(j). DHS will use the information you provide to grant or deny the immigration benefit you are seeking.
DISCLOSURE: The information you provide is voluntary. However, failure to provide the requested information,
including your Social Security number (if applicable), and any requested evidence, may delay a final decision or result in
the denial of your application.
ROUTINE USES: DHS may share the information you provide on this application, and any additional requested
evidence, with other Federal, state, local, and foreign government agencies and authorized organizations. DHS follows
approved routine uses, as described in the associated published system of records notices [DHS/USCIS/ICE/CBP- 001
Alien File, Index, and National File Tracking System, DHS/USCIS-007 Benefits Information System, and DHS/USCIS-018
Immigration Biometric and Background Check] and the published privacy impact assessments [DHS/USCIS/PIA-016(a)
Computer Linked Application Information Management System] which you can find at www.dhs.gov/privacy. DHS may
also share the information, as appropriate, for law enforcement purposes or in the interest of national security.

I-485 Supplement J Instructions 08/28/24

Paperwork Reduction Act
USCIS may not conduct or sponsor an information collection, and you are not required to respond to a collection
of information, unless it displays a currently valid Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control number. The
public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated at 0.917 hours per response, in addition to the
burden for completing Form I-485, including the time for reviewing instructions, gathering the required documentation
and information, completing the supplement, attaching necessary documentation, and submitting the supplement.
Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including
suggestions for reducing this burden, to: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Office of Policy and Strategy,
Regulatory Coordination Division, 5900 Capital Gateway Drive, Mail Stop #2140, Camp Springs, MD 20588-0009;
OMB No. 1615-0023. Do not mail your completed Supplement J to this address.

Checklist

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If requesting job portability under INA section 204(j), I have a properly filed Form I-485 that has been pending with
USCIS for 180 days or more since the receipt date, and my Form I-485 is based on an approved or pending Form
I-140 in which I am named as the principal beneficiary. (I am attaching a copy of my Form I-797 receipt from my
Form I-485, if available, or other secondary evidence demonstrating my Form I-485 has been pending for 180 days.)
I properly completed Parts 1., 2., 3., and 4. and signed Supplement J in Part 3. Applicant’s Statement, Contact
Information, Certification, and Signature.
I included all required supporting documentation listed in the What Evidence Must You Submit With
Supplement J section of these Instructions.
My new employer completed Parts 5., 6., 7., and 8. and signed Supplement J in Part 7. Statement, Contact
Information, Certification, and Signature of the Individual Employer or Authorized Signatory of the Business
Entity Employer.

I-485 Supplement J Instructions 08/28/24