If your green card was stolen, do three things: file a police report, take immediate steps against identity theft, and submit Form I-90 to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services for a replacement card. The filing fee is $415, and processing runs roughly 8 to 14 months. While you wait, you can get temporary proof of your permanent resident status so you can keep working and, if you need to, travel.
Call the Police First
Your first call should be to local law enforcement. Give the officer the date, time, and location of the theft, and describe what happened in as much detail as you can. The report does two things at once. It documents that the card was stolen rather than misplaced, which USCIS takes into account when it processes your replacement, and it creates an official record you can point to if anyone later misuses your card.
Ask for a copy of the final report or, at a minimum, the assigned case number. You will need that reference when you file Form I-90. If the department needs time to finalize the report, get the case number on the spot and follow up for the full document before you submit.
Protect Yourself Against Identity Theft
A stolen green card gives a thief your full legal name, date of birth, photograph, and Alien Registration Number. That is enough to apply for credit, file fraudulent tax returns, or work under your identity. Speed matters here.
Report the theft to the Federal Trade Commission at IdentityTheft.gov or by calling 1-877-438-4338. The FTC generates an identity theft report and walks you through a personalized recovery plan.1USAGov. Identity Theft Then place a fraud alert with one of the three major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion). You only need to contact one; whichever bureau you notify is required to alert the other two. An initial fraud alert is free and lasts one year.2Federal Trade Commission. Credit Freezes and Fraud Alerts
For stronger protection, place a credit freeze with all three bureaus. A freeze blocks new creditors from pulling your credit report, which stops most fraudulent accounts before they open. You have to contact each bureau separately to freeze your file, but there is no cost and the freeze stays in place until you lift it.2Federal Trade Commission. Credit Freezes and Fraud Alerts
File Form I-90 for a Replacement Card
Form I-90 is the application USCIS uses for both renewals and replacements of permanent resident cards. You can file online through your USCIS account or mail a paper form to the designated USCIS Lockbox facility.3U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. I-90, Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card (Green Card) Online filing is usually faster because you get immediate confirmation and easier access to case updates.
Before you start, gather the following:
- Your Alien Registration Number (A-Number), the 7- to 9-digit number that appears on your green card. If you do not have a copy of the stolen card, check old USCIS correspondence, your immigrant visa, or any I-797 notices.
- Your date of admission, meaning the date you were first granted lawful permanent resident status.
- The police report or case number from the theft.
- A valid government-issued photo ID such as a driver’s license, state ID, or current passport.
On the form, select the option indicating the card was stolen. This matters. USCIS normally requires you to return your old card with the application, and the stolen-card designation waives that requirement. Check that your name, address, and biographical details match what USCIS has on file, because even a small inconsistency can trigger a delay.
A quick note on why you should not simply carry a photocopy and wait. Federal law requires every permanent resident age 18 or older to carry their green card at all times, and a photocopy has no legal standing as your registration document.4Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 8 USC 1304 – Forms for Registration and Fingerprinting Enforcement against theft victims is essentially nonexistent in practice, but the rule is the reason to file promptly.
Filing Fee and Fee Waivers
The Form I-90 filing fee is $415. As of the April 2024 fee rule, USCIS folded the former separate biometric services fee into the base filing amount, so $415 covers everything, including fingerprinting and photographs.5Federal Register. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Fee Schedule and Changes to Certain Other Immigration Benefit Request Fee Online filers pay through Pay.gov. Paper filers can send a check or money order.
If $415 is a hardship, you may qualify for a fee waiver by filing Form I-912 at the same time as your I-90. USCIS recognizes three grounds:6U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Additional Information on Filing a Fee Waiver
- You or a household member currently receives a means-tested benefit such as Medicaid, SNAP, or SSI. Include a letter or notice showing the benefit is active.
- Your household income is at or below 150% of the federal poverty guidelines. For 2026, that threshold is $23,475 for a single person and $48,225 for a family of four.
- Unexpected financial hardship, such as a medical emergency, prevents you from paying even if your income is above the 150% line.
Submit Form I-912 together with your I-90. USCIS will not accept a fee waiver request after it has already received your application.7U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. I-912, Request for Fee Waiver
After You File
Once USCIS accepts your application, you will receive a Form I-797 receipt notice. This confirms your case is pending and serves as some evidence of your status in the meantime. Keep it. You will need it for employment verification, and it is the key to getting temporary proof of status if your wait stretches out.
Shortly after the receipt arrives, USCIS will schedule you for a biometrics appointment at a nearby Application Support Center. An officer collects your fingerprints and takes a new photograph for the replacement card. Missing this appointment without rescheduling can stall your case.
Current processing times for replacement green cards run roughly 8 to 14 months, depending on workload and whether your case triggers additional background checks. You can track your case online through the USCIS Case Status tool or through your myUSCIS account, which also lets you send secure messages, view notices, and respond to requests for evidence.8U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. How to Create a USCIS Online Account
Get Temporary Proof of Status While You Wait
An I-797 receipt helps, but it is not always enough for employers or airlines. If you need solid temporary proof of permanent resident status while your replacement is in process, request an ADIT stamp (sometimes called an I-551 stamp). This is a stamp placed in your passport or on a Form I-94 that works as temporary evidence of your lawful permanent resident status.9U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. USCIS Announces Additional Mail Delivery Process for Receiving ADIT Stamp
To request one, call the USCIS Contact Center at 800-375-5283. An officer will verify your identity and determine whether you can receive the stamp by mail or need an in-person appointment at a local field office. Mail delivery works for straightforward cases: USCIS pulls your photo from its systems, stamps a Form I-94, and sends it to you. If your photo is not on file or you have an urgent need such as upcoming travel, you will be scheduled to appear in person with your passport, your I-797 receipt notice, and a government-issued photo ID.9U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. USCIS Announces Additional Mail Delivery Process for Receiving ADIT Stamp
ADIT stamps are valid for up to one year, with the exact period set at the officer’s discretion based on your situation. If the stamp expires before your replacement card arrives, you can request a new one through the same process.
If Your Card Was Stolen Abroad
If the theft happens during international travel, you have a more immediate problem: you need documentation to board a flight back to the United States. You will work through a U.S. Embassy or Consulate rather than the domestic USCIS system.
Contact the nearest embassy or consulate and schedule an appointment with the consular section. You will file Form I-131A, Application for Travel Document (Carrier Documentation), which lets you apply for what is known as a boarding foil.10U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. I-131A, Application for Carrier Documentation Bring whatever identity documents you still have: your passport, a photocopy of the stolen card if you have one, and anything else that helps prove your permanent resident status. The filing fee must be paid online before your interview, and fee waivers are not available for this form.
If approved, the embassy places a boarding foil sticker in your passport. It is a single-use travel document valid for 30 days that allows the airline to board you for a return flight to the United States.11U.S. Embassy Tokyo. Boarding Foil – Lost or Stolen Green Cards/Re-entry Permits It gets you through the port of entry and nothing more. Once you are back in the country, you still need to file Form I-90 to get a permanent replacement card.