I‐485PERMANENTRESIDENTPENDING
DECISIONFORMFORF‐1STUDENTS
When you file the I‐485 application to adjust your status from a non‐immigrant to an immigrant you are
consideredtobependingforpermanentresidencyorsometimescalledPRPendingorI‐485Pending.Thisgives
youlegalstatustoremainintheU.S.duringthispendingperiod.YoucanfiletheI‐765formtoapplyforwork
permission while you are in this pendingtime frame. Once you filethe 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
between2pathstofollow:
I‐485PendingPathway1:F‐1BackupPlan
Whenyou file the Form I‐485applicationyou are legalto remainin theU.S. without maintainingyourF‐1
status.AlthoughmaintainingstudentstatusisnolongerrequiredonceyoufiletheI‐485thereisapractical
benefittomaintainingyourlegalF‐1status.Ifyouchoosetomaintainyourfull‐timeF‐1statuswhileyouare
PRpending,youmaybeeligibletobereinstatedbacktoF‐1studentstatusifyoubecomeineligibleforPR.
Withoutdoingthis,youwillprobablybeforcedtoreturnhome.Thispathwayprovidesabackupplanincase
youfailtobecomeaPRandstillwanttostayintheU.S.YouwillbetrackedinSEVISsothatthereisproofof
maintaining your F‐1 status in case you need to use the backup plan. If you follow Pathway 1and fail to
maintainF‐1statusforevenonesemester,youwillstillbelegallyPRpendingbutyouwillnolongerhavea
backupplanavailableifyoufailtobecomeaPR.
I‐485PendingPathway2:NoBackupPlan
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
beginningPathway1, you will have no “backup plan”for PR denial. Morethan likely, if denied,you will be
forcedtoleavetheU.S.andreturntoyourhomecountry.FollowingPathway2means,“Puttingallyoureggs
inonebasket”touseanAmericanidiom. YouarecompletelycountingonyourPRtobeapproved.Youhave
nobackupplan.
NOTE: Once you receive your permanentresidency 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
InternationalAffairssoyourNSUrecordcanbechangedtoreflectyourImmigrant(AlienPermanent)status.
Keep in mind thatbeingclassifiedasa“Resident”fortuitionpurposesDOESNOTchangeyourimmigrationor
visastatus.
PleaseCompletetheFollowingInformation
Name: 
StudentID:
SEVISID: N Phone:
Located above the bar code on your I-20
Pathway1:IhavefiledtheI‐485applicationandIvoluntarilychoosecomplywiththeF‐1regulationsand
maintainmylegalF‐1status. Thiswillprovidemewitha“backupplan”toreinstatetoF‐1statusifmyPR
applicationorpetitionfails.IwillstillbecodedasF‐1atNSUandinSEVIS.YetmyactuallegalstatusisI‐485
pendingIcanswitchtoPathway2atanytimebyinformingtheOfficeofInternationalAffairs.
Pathway2:IhavefiledtheI‐485applicationandIdonotintendtocomplywiththeF‐1studentregulations.I
realizethatmyF‐1recordinSEVISwillbeterminatedforlawfulreasons. IwillbecodedasPR(permanent
resident)atNSU.IhavelegalstatusintheU.S.becauseIamI‐485pending.
Signature: Date:
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