**Author:**  
Richie Bernardo  
**Reviewed By:**  
Hasalyn Modine  
**Updated**  
August 4, 2025

# Completing Your Employment History on a Green Card Application

How to provide an accurate record of your current and previous jobs

## What employment history is required for a green card application?  
When you apply for a [green card through marriage](https://www.boundless.com/immigration-resources/marriage-based-green-cards-explained) or a [family member](https://www.boundless.com/immigration-resources/complete-guide-to-family-based-immigration), the U.S. government will want to know where you’ve worked for the **past five years**. If you’re applying from abroad, that period generally expands to the **past 10 years**.  
  
You should have no trouble completing this section of your immigration forms if you’ve worked in only one or two places during those time frames. But what if you’ve had multiple employers and struggle to recall every detail?  
  
Don’t worry! In this guide, we’ll review the level of detail that the U.S. government generally expects you to provide about your current and previous employment. We’ll also share some helpful tips for piecing together the missing details.

## Employment History Requirements  
Both the family member seeking a green card and sponsoring family member (the U.S. citizen or green card holder) must provide their employment history on the appropriate immigration form.

###### **Important:**  
Make sure you list your most recent place of employment first and work backwards from there.

| Which form?                    | Whose employment history?                      | For which years?     |  
|---------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|-----------------------|  
| Family Sponsorship Form ( [I-130](https://www.boundless.com/immigration-resources/form-i-130-explained) )    | Sponsoring family member (U.S. citizen or green card holder) | Past 5 years         |  
| Supplemental Information Form ( [I-130A](https://www.boundless.com/immigration-resources/form-i-130a-explained) ) | Green card applicant living abroad _or_ in the U.S. | Past 5 years         |  
| Green Card Application ( [I-485](https://www.boundless.com/immigration-resources/form-i-485-explained) ) | Green card applicant living in the U.S.        | Past 5 years         |  
| Online Green Card Application ( [DS-260](https://www.boundless.com/immigration-resources/the-ds260-and-ds261-online-forms) ) | Green card applicant living abroad                | Past 10 years*       |

## What information do I need to provide for each employer?  
**On the** [**I-130**](https://www.boundless.com/immigration-resources/form-i-130-explained) **,** [**I-130A**](https://www.boundless.com/immigration-resources/form-i-130a-explained) **, and** [**I-485**](https://www.boundless.com/immigration-resources/form-i-485-explained)** forms:** You will provide the following details for each employer — whether abroad or in the United States — during the **past five years**:  
- Employer’s name  
- Employer’s address (where you actually work or report to or previously did)  
- Your position or title  
- Exact start and end dates (month/day/year)

There are some important peculiarities to note about these forms: On both the [I-130](https://www.boundless.com/immigration-resources/form-i-130-explained) and [I-130A](https://www.boundless.com/immigration-resources/form-i-130a-explained), the U.S. government will assume that you are currently employed, so the **end date** for your first listed employer will be pre-filled with “PRESENT.” You may not change or delete this answer, but you may enter an alternative type of employer if you are not currently working (see “ [Special Situations](https://www.boundless.com/immigration-resources/completing-your-employment-history-on-a-green-card-application/#special-situations)” section below). The [I-485](https://www.boundless.com/immigration-resources/form-i-485-explained), however, allows you to enter an end date for the first listed employer, which need not be your current employer, only your most recent.

## Employment history, address history, and immigration history  
It’s important to make sure the employment history aligns with the [address history](https://www.boundless.com/immigration-resources/completing-your-address-history-on-a-green-card-application) and immigration history to prevent USCIS asking for more information about why the histories don’t match, which could delay an application.

If the histories don’t match up for a good reason (for instance, the applicant worked remotely or they listed the headquarters address for their company rather than the physical office address), then they can explain why on the form or in the addendum.

## Special Situations  
Not everyone will have straightforward answers to the “Employment History” section of their immigration forms. Let’s discuss how to properly address unusual scenarios:

### Does being a student or an intern count as employment?  
Yes, full-time student enrollment and _unpaid_ internships are considered types of employment for green card application purposes.

On forms [I-130](https://www.boundless.com/immigration-resources/form-i-130-explained), [I-130A](https://www.boundless.com/immigration-resources/form-i-130a-explained), and [I-485](https://www.boundless.com/immigration-resources/form-i-485-explained), you would simply write “Student” or “Unpaid Intern” — whichever is applicable to you — in the space for your job title or occupation. You would then write the name of your school or the place where you intern as the name of your employer. Include the school’s or employer’s address and dates of attendance or employment, as well.  
 
### Does part-time work count as employment?  
Yes, part-time work is considered a type of employment for green card application purposes. The U.S. government generally requires you to include any periods of _paid_ employment, whether part- or full-time, including _paid_ internships. You would complete the “Employment History” section of your immigration forms the same way that a full-time employee would.

### What if I’m unemployed, retired, or a homemaker?  
If you are unemployed, retired, or a homemaker (or stay-at-home parent), or were at any time during the past five years, you would simply write “Unemployed,” “Retired,” or “Homemaker” — whichever is applicable to you — where you would enter the name of an employer on forms [I-130](https://www.boundless.com/immigration-resources/form-i-130-explained), [I-130A](https://www.boundless.com/immigration-resources/form-i-130a-explained), and [I-485](https://www.boundless.com/immigration-resources/form-i-485-explained).

### Tips for Remembering Old Jobs  
If you can’t recall previous jobs and the dates when you worked at each one, you’re not alone. But with a little diligence, you may find that you can reconstruct your full work history. Try one of these methods to find the information you need:  
- **Check your résumé or CV:** These are the most obvious places to look if you’ve been in the job market in the past five or 10 years.  
- **Request an Employment Verification Letter:** This formal document from your employer provides evidence that you work for them or previously did.  
- **Look at your income tax returns:** Your federal income tax return will not only be required when you submit your financial support form to the U.S. government, but it can also be useful for finding the names and addresses of previous employers during particular filing years.  
- **Request an earnings record:** The [Social Security Administration](https://www.ssa.gov/) keeps track of U.S. employees’ work histories.

Have a question about your employment history? Boundless has helped more than 100,000 people with their immigration plans. We’ll be your visa planning partner from beginning to end.