How to Change Your Last Name on a Green Card: Form I-90 Steps and Filing

To change your last name on a Green Card, file Form I-90, Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card, with USCIS after your new name is legally on record through marriage, divorce, or a court order. You’ll pick the reason code for a name change, attach a certified copy of the document that made the change legal, pay the filing fee, and go to a biometrics appointment before USCIS mails a new card in your new name.

Make the Name Change Legal First

USCIS does not have the authority to change your name. Your new name has to be official under state or foreign law before you file anything.¹ In practice, that means one of three documents:

A marriage certificate registered with the county or civil authority where the marriage took place.
A final divorce decree that includes the name change as part of the divorce.
A state court order granting a name change petition.

The document must be an original or a certified copy from the civil authority that issued it. Regular photocopies and notarized copies are not accepted.² Some states also recognize a common law name change through consistent usage. USCIS may accept a state-issued ID together with other documentation showing the state recognized the common law change, but you’ll need to confirm that’s valid where you live.³

If your marriage certificate, divorce decree, or court order is in a language other than English, include a certified English translation. The translator signs a statement certifying they’re competent in both languages and that the translation is accurate, and provides their name, signature, address, and date. You can’t translate your own documents, but the translator doesn’t have to be a professional agency.

Documents to Gather Before You File

Missing paperwork is one of the most common reasons an I-90 stalls. Pull everything together first:

A certified copy of your marriage certificate, divorce decree, or court order. This is the core of the application.
Your current Green Card. If it was lost or stolen, you can still file, but you’ll pick a different reason code and explain the situation.
A government-issued photo ID such as a passport or state driver’s license for identity verification.³
A certified English translation of any supporting document not in English.

Filling Out Form I-90

Form I-90 is on the USCIS website as a downloadable PDF and through the online filing system.⁴ Because the form covers several replacement scenarios, the reason code you pick matters.

In Part 2, if you have a standard 10-year card, select Item 2.e., which covers a legal name or biographic change since the card was issued. If you have a 2-year conditional card, select Item 3.e. instead.⁵ The wrong code can delay processing or lead to rejection.

The rest of the form asks for your new legal name, date of birth, mailing address, and other identifying details. Answer “Yes” in the name change section and enter your previous name in Items 5.a. through 5.c.² Fill every required field, and check your signature. USCIS rejects unsigned applications outright.⁶

Filing Fee and Fee Waiver

USCIS charges a filing fee for Form I-90 that changes periodically, so check the current amount on the USCIS fee schedule before you file.⁴ You can pay electronically when filing online, or include a check or money order by mail.

If you can’t afford the fee, you may qualify for a waiver by submitting Form I-912, Request for Fee Waiver, with your I-90.⁷ One catch: you can’t file Form I-90 online with a fee waiver request. You’ll have to submit the paper version by mail.⁴

How to Submit the Application

You can file online or by mail. Online is faster and gives you better visibility into the case.

Filing Online

Create a USCIS online account, select Form I-90, and follow the prompts. You’ll enter your information, upload digital copies of your supporting documents, and pay electronically. The account also lets you check case status, receive notifications, respond to evidence requests, and see estimated completion dates.⁴

Filing by Mail

Send the completed form, supporting documents, and fee to the USCIS Lockbox. The address depends on your carrier:

USPS: USCIS, Attn: I-90, P.O. Box 21262, Phoenix, AZ 85036-1262
FedEx, UPS, or DHL: USCIS, Attn: I-90 (Box 21262), 2108 E. Elliot Rd., Tempe, AZ 85284-1806

Use a trackable shipping method. USCIS won’t confirm receipt until intake is processed, which can take weeks.⁴

What Happens After You File

Once USCIS accepts the application, you move through a few steps before the new card arrives.

First, USCIS mails a Form I-797C receipt notice with a case number you can use to track the case online. Next, most applicants receive a notice scheduling them at a local Application Support Center for fingerprints and a photograph.⁸ Missing that appointment without rescheduling can get your case closed, so treat the date seriously.

If USCIS needs something you didn’t include, they’ll send a Request for Evidence listing what’s missing.⁹ Respond by the deadline on the notice; ignoring an RFE usually leads to denial. After approval, USCIS mails your updated card showing your new last name. Processing times vary by office and current caseload, and you can check the estimate for Form I-90 on the USCIS processing times page using your receipt number.

If You Have a Two-Year Conditional Card

If you received your Green Card through marriage and it’s valid for only two years, you’re a conditional permanent resident.¹⁰ Form I-90 with reason code 3.e. will update your name, but it cannot renew a conditional card. To remove the conditions and get a standard 10-year card, you file Form I-751 in the 90-day window before the conditional card expires.¹¹

If your name change happens close to that 90-day window, it can make sense to wait and update the name through the I-751 rather than pay for both filings. If the timing doesn’t line up, filing I-90 now for the name and I-751 later for the conditions is fine.

Traveling While the Application Is Pending

You don’t have to put international travel on hold. Permanent residents who have changed their name can travel using a Green Card in the prior name as long as they carry proof of the name change, such as the marriage certificate, divorce decree, or court order.¹² Check entry requirements for any country you’re visiting, since some are stricter about name consistency across travel documents.

Update Your Other Records

A new Green Card doesn’t automatically change anything else. Mismatched names cause problems at work, at airports, and with other agencies, so update the rest of your records too.

Social Security

Update your Social Security record first, since employers and other agencies verify identity against SSA data. As a permanent resident, bring your Green Card, your legal name change document, and a completed Form SS-5.¹³ All documents must be originals or copies certified by the issuing agency. File in person at a local SSA office or by mail; new cards typically arrive in 10 to 14 business days.

There’s no legal deadline to update your name with SSA, but waiting more than two years after the name change triggers stricter identity verification. Within the two-year window, your name change document can serve as primary identification; after that, you’ll need additional photo ID in your old name or an in-person visit.¹³

Driver’s License

Once SSA has your new name, visit your state’s DMV to update your driver’s license or state ID. Most states ask for your legal name change document, your current license, and proof that SSA has updated its records. Fees vary by state and are generally modest. From there, work through your bank, employer, health insurance, and other institutions that still have the old name on file.

1
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. USCIS Policy Manual – USCIS-Issued Secure Identity Documents
2
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Instructions for Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card
3
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. USCIS Policy Manual Volume 1 Part E Chapter 5 – Verification of Identifying Information
4
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. I-90, Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card (Green Card)
5
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Immigration Documents and How to Correct, Update, or Replace Them
6
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. USCIS Policy Manual Volume 1 Part B Chapter 2 – Signatures
7
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. I-912, Request for Fee Waiver
8
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Preparing for Your Biometric Services Appointment
9
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Request for Evidence (RFE)
10
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Conditional Permanent Residence
11
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Removing Conditions on Permanent Residence Based on Marriage
12
U.S. Customs and Border Protection. US Citizens/Lawful Permanent Residents Name Does Not Match
13
Social Security Administration. Learn What Documents You Will Need to Get a Social Security Card