Destination preparation
1 pathway-specific preparation option available
COUNTRY COVERAGE RECORD
United States
1 released preparation pathway · destination authority catalogued · 4 document-country rules · 22 distinct official sourcesDestination authority
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services catalogued
Documents from this country
1 source-checked rule pack available
Preparation pathways for United States
These are narrow, versioned workflows for immigration to this country. A released pack does not establish eligibility or authorize filing.
Released preparation pack
U.S. citizen spouse — adjustment of status preparation pack
U.S. citizen spouse adjusting status from inside the United States
Published scope
Narrow preparation scope for a U.S. citizen petitioning a spouse who is physically present in the United States and may seek adjustment of status after inspection and admission or parole. This is not an eligibility determination.
- Structured requirements
- 12
- Official form records
- 7
- Preparation mode
- Mapped Review Pdf
Preparation output
Protected partial review PDFs and structured form records
- Authority-form mode
- Protected Review Pdf
- Legal review
- Attorney Approval Required
- Government submission
- Not provided
Filing channel and boundary
USCIS paper adjustment package; Form I-130 may be filed online or as part of an eligible concurrent paper package.
The pack prepares protected review copies only. Scope review, complete field mapping, signatures, fees, and the authorized USCIS filing channel remain separate controls.
Official sources for this pack
USCIS Policy Manual — Family-Based Petition FilingChecked 07/12/26 · Concurrent filing rules and Form I-130 filing policy.
Open official source ↗USCIS Policy Manual — Adjustment Eligibility RequirementsChecked 07/12/26 · Admission or parole, visa availability, admissibility, and filing requirements.
Open official source ↗USCIS Policy Manual — Adjustment Filing InstructionsChecked 07/12/26 · Concurrent filing and jurisdiction rules.
Open official source ↗Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative04/01/24 · Official form page; recheck accepted edition immediately before filing.
Open official source ↗Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status01/20/25 · Official form page; filing location varies by category and concurrent package.
Open official source ↗Form I-864, Affidavit of Support Under Section 213A10/17/24 · Sponsor income, domicile, household size, and contract requirements.
Open official source ↗Form I-693, Report of Immigration Medical Examination and Vaccination Record01/20/25 · Must be completed by a designated civil surgeon; applicant completes only designated applicant portions.
Open official source ↗USCIS Policy Alert — Form I-693 Validity06/11/25 · Generally ties Form I-693 validity to the specific benefit request with which it was submitted.
Open official source ↗Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization08/21/25 · Optional adjustment-based employment authorization request; separate fee rules may apply and online availability is category-limited.
Open official source ↗Form I-131, Application for Travel Documents, Parole Documents, and Arrival/Departure Records01/20/25 · Optional advance parole request; departure may have case consequences and requires review.
Open official source ↗Form G-1055, Fee Schedule08/29/25 · Fees change; Wayfinder does not cache a filing amount as authoritative.
Open official source ↗USCIS Adjustment of Status Filing ChartsChecked 07/12/26 · Required for preference categories; immediate relatives are not numerically limited.
Open official source ↗USCIS Direct Filing Addresses for Form I-485Checked 07/12/26 · Never hardcode a lockbox address; verify immediately before mailing.
Open official source ↗USCIS Tips for Filing Forms by MailChecked 07/12/26 · Current edition, all pages, correct fee, and signatures are rejection controls.
Open official source ↗Official authority record
This record identifies the government authority and current channel boundaries. It is independent from whether Wayfinder has released a preparation pathway.
Governed authority release
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
Active release 1; only the approved active release is public
Filing boundary
The valid channel depends on the benefit request and form. Wayfinder currently operates a monitored preparation pack for one citizen-spouse adjustment workflow; it does not submit filings.
Representative participation
Representatives participate through matter-specific authority and USCIS procedures, including Form G-28 where applicable.
Official authority links
Authority overviewhttps://www.uscis.gov/
Open official source ↗Applications and submission channelshttps://www.uscis.gov/file-online
Open official source ↗Official forms and guideshttps://www.uscis.gov/forms/all-forms
Open official source ↗Representative ruleshttps://www.uscis.gov/g-28
Open official source ↗Rules for records from United States
These rules are keyed to where a record was issued, residence or citizenship, and police-history facts. The destination pathway is stated on every pack.
Source-checked document rule pack
United States records for Canada family sponsorship
Destination: Canada · Family Class — married spouse living outside Canada
- Last reviewed
- July 12, 2026
- Next review
- August 12, 2026
- Rule areas
- 4
- Published rules
- 4
- Matter review
- Qualified Matter Review Required
Coverage
IRCC Family Class spouse preparation rules for U.S. residence, U.S.-issued civil documents, and U.S. police-certificate history. IRCC currently lists no special U.S. civil-document instructions, but the general checklist still applies.
RoutingTranslationCivil DocumentPolice Certificate
Published requirements
01Country-of-residence form routingRouting
IRCC's current family sponsorship selector lists no extra forms for this country. The core Family Class form plan and every otherwise-applicable form remain required.
What to do
- Regenerate the IRCC application-kit result using the applicant's actual residence country immediately before final review.
Documents to keep
- Saved application-kit source URL and checked date
- Exact country-of-residence selection
Controlling source: IRCC family sponsorship country-specific document instructions Checked 07/12/26
02IRCC translation controlTranslation
A document not in English or French requires the translation and, when the translator is not a Canadian certified translator, the translator's affidavit. Applicants and listed family members cannot translate the documents themselves.
What to do
- Identify the language of every source document.
- Use a permitted translator and collect any required affidavit.
- Retain the source document, translation, and affidavit together.
Documents to keep
- Certified copy of the source document when required
- English or French translation
- Translator affidavit when required
Controlling source: Sponsor your spouse, partner or child — application package Checked 07/12/26
03United States civil documentsCivil Document
IRCC currently lists no special instructions for U.S.-issued documents. The controlling IMM 5533 checklist and general IRCC rules still require the applicable birth, marriage, divorce, death, identity, and relationship records.
What to do
- Collect the civil record from the competent U.S. issuing authority.
- Confirm it proves the event required by IMM 5533.
- Recheck the IRCC country selector immediately before final review.
Documents to keep
- Applicable government-issued U.S. civil record
- Current IMM 5533 checklist result
Controlling source: IRCC family sponsorship country-specific document instructions Checked 07/12/26
04United States FBI police certificatePolice Certificate
For a non-Canadian citizen or permanent resident age 18 or older who spent at least six consecutive months in the United States since age 18, the required document is the Identity History Summary issued by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
What to do
- Request the Identity History Summary using the FBI's official online process linked by IRCC.
- For current residence, obtain a summary issued no more than six months before submission; for former residence, obtain one issued after the last qualifying stay.
- Retain a colour scan of the complete FBI-issued original for the IRCC record.
Documents to keep
- Colour scan of the original FBI Identity History Summary
Controlling source: How to get a police certificate — United States Page date 06/17/25; checked 07/12/26
Official sources for this rule pack
Sponsor your spouse, partner or child — application packageChecked 07/12/26 · Online package, form routing, country-specific instructions, signatures, biometrics, and submission sequence.
Open official source ↗IRCC family sponsorship country-specific document instructionsChecked 07/12/26 · Official dynamic include used by the IRCC family sponsorship application-kit selector. Country residence controls extra forms; document-issuing country controls special civil-document instructions.
Open official source ↗When to get a police certificatePage date 02/19/26; checked 07/12/26 · IRCC timing, freshness, original-colour-scan, former-residence, and update-request rules for police certificates.
Open official source ↗How to get a police certificate — United StatesPage date 06/17/25; checked 07/12/26 · IRCC identifies the FBI Identity History Summary as the required U.S. police certificate.
Open official source ↗