List of Common Immigration Forms for 2025

Navigating the immigration process is a complicated and often overwhelming experience for both legal professionals and their clients. One of the most challenging aspects is managing the extensive collection of immigration paperwork that goes into a visa, green card, or citizenship application.

Knowing these forms is essential because filling out a form incorrectly or missing a form can lead to delays or a rejection of an application.

Numerous updates were made to the USCIS forms and requirements in 2025. Given the many changes and upheavals in immigration policy, it’s been challenging to keep up.

However, by familiarizing yourself with the latest United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) forms and following best practices when preparing your cases, you can ensure nothing slips through the cracks and maximize the chances for a smooth adjudication process.

In this immigration form guide, we’ll provide you with:

• A list of commonly used immigration documents
• An overview of the application process
• Tips for streamlining your immigration paperwork processes

Common Challenges Legal Professionals Face With Immigration Forms 

Immigration paperwork is notoriously complex, which has led to some common challenges even for legal professionals and non-profit organizations who deal with these forms on a near-daily basis.

Manual Chaos

When it comes to tracking immigration paperwork, there are several moving parts, whether it’s collecting supporting evidence, filling out forms completely, or meeting filing deadlines. As if this weren’t difficult enough, many legal professionals are still filling out forms and tracking deadlines manually, a process that is too labor-intensive to be efficient.

Unfortunately, as immigration paperwork gets more detailed, a reliance on manual processes is taking an increasing amount of time. Furthermore, filling out forms by hand can lead to unintentional errors (missed signatures, incorrect spellings, etc.). 

While some firms can afford to hire support staff, many solo law firms and nonprofits have limited resources, which limits their ability to scale up their operations over time. Leveraging technology to automate form production empowers smaller organizations to scale up their production without needing to hire additional personnel. 

Inconsistent Forms

A single immigration case often involves submitting several immigration forms, the exact combination of which depends on each client's individual circumstances and whether dependent family members are involved. The lack of a systematized process for preparing all immigration forms can lead to the placement of erroneous or inconsistent data or missing information.

This confusion is compounded by the fact that procedures for submitting forms, including filing fees, the location where they should be sent, and post-filing steps, are subject to change—sometimes with little notice. Immigration law and policy are shaped at the federal level and can change quickly because the executive branch of government has a lot of discretion in administering the law.

Without a centralized way to view client information and updated forms in one place, it’s easier to make critical mistakes that can cost clients time and harm your reputation. 

Client Frustration

Immigration clients are often filled with equal parts hope and anxiety. The high stakes, long wait times, and complicated process are intimidating and scary. Plus, when delays happen (even because of innocent mistakes), it can be stressful and sometimes lead to economic or personal consequences for the client. 

When the professionals whom the client has entrusted to handle their case seem hard to reach or uncommunicative, clients can grow frustrated. The number one reason for client complaints against lawyers is their failure to return calls, provide updates, and otherwise communicate.

List of Common USCIS Immigration Forms

To help you find the right forms faster, we’ve created a list of common immigration forms for reference. For a more complete list, please visit the USCIS website.

Here is a short list of the most common forms that legal professionals use to help their clients, along with links:

• ETA-9035 | Labor Condition Application for Nonimmigrant Workers
  
  • Purpose: To get permission to hire H1-B employees from the Department of Labor and make required attestations about the working conditions.
  • Who must file: Prospective H1-B employers of non-immigrant workers.
• ETA-9089 | Application for Permanent Employment Certification
  
  • Purpose: To attest that there are not enough qualified U.S. workers in order to permanently employ a foreign worker—this is part of the longer PERM process.
  • Who must file: Prospective EB-2, EB-3, and other employers seeking permanent employees from abroad.
• DS-160 | Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application
  
  • Purpose: To apply for any of a variety of non-immigrant (ie. temporary) visas to travel to the U.S. for purposes such as tourism, business visits, academic or vocational study, and for K (fiancé(e) visas).
  • Who must file: Anyone applying for a nonimmigrant visa to the U.S.
• DS-260 | Immigrant Visa Electronic Application
  
  • Purpose: To apply for an immigrant visa, which is a single-use visa used to travel to and apply for admission to the U.S. as a permanent immigrant. 
  • Who must file: Visa applicants living outside the U.S.
• EOIR-42A | Application for Cancellation of Removal for Permanent Residents
  
  • Purpose: Used by a Lawful Permanent Resident to apply to have his/her removal canceled by an immigration judge. 
  • Who must file: A green card holder who is in removal proceedings and has been found removable by an immigration judge.
• EOIR-41B | Application for Cancellation of Removal and Adjustment of Status for Certain Nonpermanent Residents
  
  • Purpose: Used by a non-permanent resident who meets the criteria to apply to have his/her removal canceled by an immigration judge.
  • Who must file: Non-permanent residents with at least 10 years of physical presence in the U.S. and who are of good moral character.
• I-589 | Application for Asylum and Withholding of Removal
  
  • Purpose: To apply for asylum and/or withholding of removal because of a fear of persecution on account of a protected ground.
  • Who must file: Non-citizens who are physically present in the U.S. and fear persecution if returned to their country of nationality or last residence. 
• I-129 | Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker
  
  • Purpose: To petition for a non-immigrant worker to reside temporarily in the U.S. to receive training or provide certain services.
  • Who must file: Employers sponsoring non-immigrant workers.
• I-129F | Petition for Alien Fiancé
  
  • Purpose: To petition to bring a fiancé or spouse of a U.S. citizen to the U.S.
  • Who must file: U.S. citizens petitioning for a fiancé or spouse.
• I-129S | Nonimmigrant Petition Based on Blanket L Petition
  
  • Purpose: To classify workers as L-1 nonimmigrant intracompany transferees under a previously approved blanket L petition.
  • Who must file: Employers with an approved blanket L petition.
• I-130 | Petition for Alien Relative
  
  • Purpose: To establish a qualifying relationship with an eligible relative for immigration.
  • Who must file: U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents.
• I-140 | Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker
  
  • Purpose: Petition for a noncitizen worker to be classified as an immigrant based on employment so that the worker can apply for permanent residency. The form may require an attached form ETA-9089 for certain worker classifications.
  • Who must file: Employers sponsoring a noncitizen employee.
• I-360 | Petition for Amerasian, Widow(er), or Special Immigrant
  
  • Purpose: To classify a foreign national as an Amerasian, widow(er), or special immigrant.
  • Who must file: Eligible individuals under these categories.
• I-485 | Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status
  
  • Purpose: Needed for those who want to apply for lawful permanent resident status (green card). 
  • Who must file: People who are eligible for an immigrant visa, residing in the U.S., and whose priority date is current, if a preference immigrant. 
• I-751 | Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence
  
  • Purpose: To remove conditions on permanent resident status for married green card holders.
  • Who must file: Conditional permanent resident who obtained status through marriage. 
• I-765 | Application for Employment Authorization
  
  • Purpose: To request employment authorization and an EAD (Employment Authorization Document).
  • Who must file: Non-citizens seeking work authorization.
• N-400 | Application for Naturalization
  
  • Purpose: To apply for U.S. citizenship.
  • Who must file: Eligible lawful permanent residents.

This is not a comprehensive list of all immigration forms but is a helpful starting point.

Remember, all of these forms may only be used at specific points in the immigration process, and most or all require additional supporting documents or evidence. If you’re working through the immigration process manually, always double-check the USCIS site to make sure you’re using the latest edition of the form, that you’re filing it at the right time and with the correct office and filing fee, and to check for any relevant updates to immigration law that may affect eligibility.

Process for Submitting Immigration Forms

Navigating the immigration process can be daunting even for a legal professional, especially since specific form and document requirements tend to change regularly. 

Below is an overview of the process for submitting immigration forms.

Step 1: Prepare Required Documents

First determine what type of immigration benefits you are applying for (e.g., are you filing for a permanent immigrant or temporary immigrant?). Generally speaking, immigration falls into four types:

• Employment-based immigration: Applications for employment-based permanent residency or nonimmigrant workers (e.g., H1-B, L-1, R-1, and so on).
• Family-based immigration: Applicants seeking to join a spouse or other relatives in the U.S.
• Humanitarian cases: People seeking asylum or refugee status in the United States.
• Diversity visas: Also known as the green-card lottery, which awards up to 55,000 visas to eligible applicants chosen through a random selection.

Once you know the broad category of immigration you’re dealing with, ensure the applicant is eligible for a specific visa, then identify the appropriate forms for the applicant. Remember, there are often variants of certain documents to account for specific circumstances, so ensure that you have all of the correct forms (along with all required supporting documentation) before applying.

Step 2: Submit the Application

Once you’re sure all of your documents are up-to-date, accurate, and complete, it’s time to file the application. Choose whether you will be filing electronically or by mailing in paper forms.

An important note: Not all petitions and applications can be filed online. Certain application types (like re-entry permits or refugee travel permits) must be filed by mail. Check the USCIS’ full list of forms available to file online to make sure. 

You’ll then need to pay the appropriate filing fees. If the filing fees are incorrect, your forms will not be accepted, and your package will be returned. If you are filing multiple forms, each payment must be made separately, as USCIS uses multiple systems to process different documents.

If you’re filing from the U.S., fees can be paid online or by mail. For applicants outside of the U.S., check the appropriate international USCIS office for eligible payment methods.

Step 3: Track and Respond

After an application is submitted, you have to be patient and wait. Processing times can vary wildly based on the type of application or for specific forms. Use the client’s case number to track the status of each case online.

Be on the lookout for any irregularities, rejections, or Requests for Evidence (RFEs) and respond promptly. RFEs are particularly common for family-based and employment-based immigrant and nonimmigrant worker petitions, and the faster you respond, the faster the application can continue through the process.

Eventually, a decision will be made, and depending on the outcome, you can determine the next steps. Remember, appeals need to be filed quickly, so it’s vital to stay on top of the status of your clients’ applications.

How to Streamline Immigration Form Filing and Management

Effectively managing USCIS forms and other immigration documents requires extreme attention to detail. Your clients rely on you to help them navigate the extremely intimidating U.S. system, and their livelihoods depend on it. 

However, attention to detail can be extremely time-consuming when managing cases manually. It’s also more error-prone. 

That’s why many immigration law professionals are relying on purpose-built tools and technology to file faster, improve accuracy, and better serve their clients. Here are a few of the top immigration form best practices and tools you can use to streamline the way you fill out, organize, and track client immigration forms.

Use Smart Client Intake Forms

Almost all immigration lawyers have felt the monotonous sting of having to fill out the same information on different forms over and over again. That repetition can lead to errors if you’re not careful.

To help expedite this process, use a smart client intake form to collect key client data such as:

• Legal name and DOB
• Passport and license numbers
• Country of birth
• Alien registration number

Immigration case management software like Docketwise can use this intake form to automatically populate forms and other documents—enabling legal professionals to fill out forms significantly faster, increasing overall efficiency and freeing up time to spend on more important tasks.

You can also tailor smart forms for specific types of applications so that clients are only asked relevant questions.

E-file Immigration Documents

Using case management software, you can manage and organize all relevant documents from a single system, ensuring that all relevant information is collected before filing an application. Certain software will also flag if anything is incomplete, helping you avoid errors.

Not only does this make it easier to track your clients’ documents, but it’s also significantly more secure and easier to collaborate compared to managing physical documents or unsecured PDFs. Additionally, leveraging eFile for immigration paperwork ensures that you’re always using the most up-to-date version of a given document.

When you eFile using immigration case management software, you can also easily separate out filing fees appropriately while giving clients a single, secure payment portal. 

Automate Immigration Forms Tracking 

RFEs and appeals require quick action, and you can’t afford to miss an important update. However, tracking each individual case number the old-fashioned way can lead to just that outcome.

Reduce the risk of missing vital updates by automatically tracking the status of USCIS forms inside your case management software. This way, you’ll know exactly when updates are made and if any additional action is needed. You’ll also have a centralized place to access all client documentation to provide additional evidence or correct any errors.

Save Time on Forms and Deliver Better Client Outcomes With Docketwise

When you’re dealing with immigration, employment, and petition forms, you’re not just doing rote paperwork—you have your client’s future in your hands. Streamlining your immigration paperwork processes is, therefore, more than just finding ways to save time and money, it’s ensuring that your clients get the best experience possible.

Docketwise is dedicated to helping immigration practices build trust with clients, stay ahead of form changes, and deliver better client service. With an accurate and comprehensive database of immigration documents, smart client intake forms, eFiling support, and automated case tracking, Docketwise gives legal professionals everything they need to help their clients build a better life.

‍Schedule your Docketwise demo today to see how you can streamline immigration document processes at your practice.