Complete Guide to Form I-687 in the U.S.

Have you been in the United States since January 1, 1982, but residing unlawfully? Do you want to legitimize your presence in the United States? The Form I-687 may be just what you need. 

With Form I-687, you can apply for Temporary Residence Status in the United States. Below we take a look at how the Form I-687 works and the requirements you have to meet to qualify.

What is Form I-687?

The Form I-687 is the form you use to apply for Status as a Temporary Resident Under Section 245A of the Immigration and Nationality Act. 

Originally, one would use Form I-687 to apply for status as a temporary resident under the 1986 Immigration Reform and Control Act. The period for filing for this ended in 1988, however. You now use Form I-687 to apply for benefits under the terms and conditions of certain settlement agreements. 

Who Needs Form I-687? 

You are eligible for temporary residency status if you meet all of the following eligibility criteria:

• You can show you entered the United States before January 1, 1982.
• You can show you resided continuously in the United States in an unlawful status since January 1, 1982. You must also have resided continuously in the United States through the date the application is considered filed under the settlement agreements. Take note, if you entered the United States as a nonimmigrant before January 1, 1982, you must either show your period of authorized stay as a nonimmigrant expired before January 1, 1982, through the passage of time or your unlawful status was known to the Government as of January 1, 1982.
• You can show that you have been continuously physically present in the United States since November 6, 1986. You must also confirm you have been continuously physically present through the date the application is considered filed under the settlement agreements.
• You are admissible to the United States as an immigrant except as otherwise provided under section 245A(d)(2) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (see below.)
• You have not been convicted of any felony or three or more misdemeanors committed in the United States.
• You have not assisted in persecuting any persons on the grounds of race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion.
• You registered or are registering under the Military Selective Service Act (if required).

As mentioned above, before you are eligible for temporary residency status, you must be admissible to the United States under section 212(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act. If you aren’t admissible under this section, you will first have to apply for a waiver of inadmissibility with a Form I-690, Application for Waiver of Grounds of Inadmissibility. By filing a Form I-690, you will apply to the Secretary of Homeland Security to waive any grounds of inadmissibility. 

You can read more about the Form I-690 here. 

Keep in mind, however, the following grounds of inadmissibility cannot be waived:

• You were involved in crimes involving moral turpitude
• You were involved in crimes involving controlled substances. If it related to a single offense of possessing 30 grams or less of marijuana, this crime won’t count
• You have multiple criminal convictions
• You were involved in the trafficking of controlled substances
• Any grounds of inadmissibility relating to security 
• If you will be a public charge. However, if you can show a history of being employed in the United States and can show you supported yourself without receiving public cash assistance, you will be admissible. 

How to Complete Form I-687 

You must use black ink to complete Form I-612, and all your entries must be legible.

Make sure you don’t leave any of the items blank. If any of the items don’t apply to you, you can write “N/A”. If you need additional space, you can use an extra sheet of paper. Print your Alien Registration Number on each additional sheet, make sure it is clear what section or item the information on the sheet is related to and make sure you sign and date each additional page. 

When you complete Form I-687, you will need to provide the following types of information:

• Personal information like name, address, citizenship, marital status, etc.
• Information about your entry to the United States
• Information about your different residences in the United States
• Affiliation or associates to which you have belonged or to which you belong. This includes clubs, churches, and organizations
• Information about any absences from the United States since your entry
• Details of all your past and present employment in the United States, and
• Details of possible crimes you have committed.

You will also need to provide supporting documents proving your identity and your residence in the United States. 

The following are examples of documents you can use to establish identity:

• Birth certificate, or other evidence of birth
• A national identification card from your home country
• Passport
• Driver’s license
• An identification card issued by a school or the State you reside in
• Any form of military identification.

You can use any of the following documents to establish residence in the United States:

• Leases, rent receipts, deeds or any other proof of a mortgage
• Birth certificates of children born in the United States
• Employment records, union records, or other business records
• Driver’s license receipts or evidence of your vehicle being registered in the United States
• Utility bill receipts
• Installment loan records
• Church records
• Medical records
• Affidavits or declarations from credible and verifiable third parties.

Don’t forget to sign your form before you submit it. The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will reject any forms that aren’t signed.

Where to File Form I-687

There isn’t an open platform where you can file your Form I-687. The USCIS only accepts Form I-687s under very specific circumstances. If you want to apply for temporary residence status and you are eligible, the USCIS will provide you with an address where to file your Form I-687. 

You can contact the USCIS here to get more information. 

Form I-687 Cost

The fee for filing a Form I-687 is $1,130. You may also have to pay a biometric service of $85.

This fee is quite expensive, and you have to remember this fee is non-refundable. Even if the USCIS rejects your application for temporary residence status or you withdraw your application, you won’t get this money back. 

Conclusion

If you qualify for temporary residency status according to the information above, there is no reason to continue with your unlawful presence in the United Status. Contact the USCIS and file your Form I-687 today. You may just become eligible for an Employment Authorization Document and will finally travel the world and safely re-enter the United States afterward!

Frank Gogol

I’m a firm believer that information is the key to financial freedom. On the Stilt Blog, I write about the complex topics — like finance, immigration, and technology — to help immigrants make the most of their lives in the U.S. Our content and brand have been featured in Forbes, TechCrunch, VentureBeat, and more.

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