9/22/2006

The centralization of EB-485 filing procedure was effective on 07/24/2006. Some people are confused about the filing jurisdiction for EB-485 applications. Regardless of where their pending or approved I-140 petitions are located, people should file the stand-alone I-485 applications with NSC. 

Accordingly, you filed your stand alone I-140 petition at CSC or TSC or VSC and while the I-140 petition still pending, your visa number becomes available and you want to file I-485 application for yourself and your family members, you should file the I-485 applications not with the Service Center where your I-140 petition is pending but with Nebraska Service Center. Please make it sure that you attach a copy of the pending I-140 Receipt Notice. 

Additionally, if your I-140 petition has been pending at CSC or TSC or VSC and receive the I-140 approval notices from these Service Centers and you want to file I-485 applications as your visa numbers are available, you file the stand alone I-485 applications for yourself and your family members not with TSC nor CSC nor VSC, but with NSC attaching the approved -140 approval notice. Just remember that all the employment-based I-485 applications should be filed with NSC regardless of where your files are located.

Filing of stand alone EAD or Advance Parole new applications or renewal applications while I-485 applications are still pending is not affected by the centralization of I-485 applications. These stand alone EAD or Advance Parole applications should still follow the jurisdictions of the pending I-485 applications.