I‐485PERMANENTRESIDENTPENDING
DECISIONFORMFORF‐1STUDENTS
When you file the I‐485 application to adjust your status from a non‐immigrant to an immigrant you are
consideredtobependingforpermanentresidencyorsometimescalledPRPendingorI‐485Pending.Thisgives
youlegalstatustoremainintheU.S.duringthispendingperiod.YoucanfiletheI‐765formtoapplyforwork
permission while you are in this pendingtime frame. Once you filethe I‐485, it will still be months or years
before you have your “permanent residency” interview. If you file the I‐485 application, you have to choose
between2pathstofollow:
I‐485PendingPathway1:F‐1BackupPlan
Whenyou file the Form I‐485applicationyou are legalto remainin theU.S. without maintainingyourF‐1
status.AlthoughmaintainingstudentstatusisnolongerrequiredonceyoufiletheI‐485thereisapractical
benefittomaintainingyourlegalF‐1status.Ifyouchoosetomaintainyourfull‐timeF‐1statuswhileyouare
PRpending,youmaybeeligibletobereinstatedbacktoF‐1studentstatusifyoubecomeineligibleforPR.
Withoutdoingthis,youwillprobablybeforcedtoreturnhome.Thispathwayprovidesabackupplanincase
youfailtobecomeaPRandstillwanttostayintheU.S.YouwillbetrackedinSEVISsothatthereisproofof
maintaining your F‐1 status in case you need to use the backup plan. If you follow Pathway 1and fail to
maintainF‐1statusforevenonesemester,youwillstillbelegallyPRpendingbutyouwillnolongerhavea
backupplanavailableifyoufailtobecomeaPR.
I‐485PendingPathway2:NoBackupPlan
If you have filed the I‐485 (PR pending), you have legal status in the U.S. and do not have to obey F‐1
regulations. You can totally drop out of school. If you follow Pathway 2 from the start or switch to it after
beginningPathway1, you will have no “backup plan”for PR denial. Morethan likely, if denied,you will be
forcedtoleavetheU.S.andreturntoyourhomecountry.FollowingPathway2means,“Puttingallyoureggs
inonebasket”touseanAmericanidiom. YouarecompletelycountingonyourPRtobeapproved.Youhave
nobackupplan.
NOTE: Once you receive your permanentresidency card (e.g. green card; although it is no longer green) or
have an I‐551 stamp in your passport, please bring one or both of these documents to the Office of
InternationalAffairssoyourNSUrecordcanbechangedtoreflectyourImmigrant(AlienPermanent)status.
Keep in mind thatbeingclassifiedasa“Resident”fortuitionpurposesDOESNOTchangeyourimmigrationor
visastatus.
PleaseCompletetheFollowingInformation
Name:
StudentID:
SEVISID: N Phone:
Located above the bar code on your I-20
Pathway1:IhavefiledtheI‐485applicationandIvoluntarilychoosecomplywiththeF‐1regulationsand
maintainmylegalF‐1status. Thiswillprovidemewitha“backupplan”toreinstatetoF‐1statusifmyPR
applicationorpetitionfails.IwillstillbecodedasF‐1atNSUandinSEVIS.YetmyactuallegalstatusisI‐485
pendingIcanswitchtoPathway2atanytimebyinformingtheOfficeofInternationalAffairs.
Pathway2:IhavefiledtheI‐485applicationandIdonotintendtocomplywiththeF‐1studentregulations.I
realizethatmyF‐1recordinSEVISwillbeterminatedforlawfulreasons. IwillbecodedasPR(permanent
resident)atNSU.IhavelegalstatusintheU.S.becauseIamI‐485pending.
Signature: Date:
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