How to Change Your Name on a Green Card After Marriage

To change your name on a Green Card after marriage, file Form I-90 (Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card) with USCIS, select reason 2.e for a legal name change, and submit a certified copy of your marriage certificate along with the filing fees. Update your Social Security record first so the two agencies match. The process typically takes several months, and your existing Green Card stays valid the whole time.

No law forces you to update the card. It remains valid proof of permanent residency in your former name, as long as you can bridge the gap with a marriage certificate. But every bank, employer, and airline that sees the mismatch will ask questions, so most people update sooner rather than later.

Update Social Security Before You File I-90

Change your name with the Social Security Administration first. USCIS and other federal agencies cross-reference Social Security records, and mismatches can slow your I-90 down. SSA doesn’t charge for a corrected card.

Bring proof of identity, proof of your new legal name, and evidence of the name change event. A certified marriage certificate usually covers all three. You may also need to show current immigration status. Check SSA’s document requirements for your specific situation.¹

Filing Form I-90

Form I-90 is the vehicle for a name change on your Green Card.² On the form, select reason 2.e: “My name or other biographic information has been legally changed since issuance of my existing card.”³

You’ll enter your A-Number, current legal name, new legal name, date of birth, and mailing address. Along with the completed form, submit:

A certified copy of your marriage certificate registered with the proper civil authority (not a photocopy of the ceremony document).
A copy of your current Green Card.
A government-issued photo ID such as a driver’s license or passport.

If your Green Card is also expiring within six months, you don’t have to file twice. Selecting the name change reason lets USCIS issue one replacement card with both the corrected name and a new expiration date.³

Fees

The I-90 filing fee is $415 online or $465 by paper, plus an $85 biometrics services fee. Confirm the current amounts with the USCIS fee calculator before filing, since USCIS updates fees periodically.²

Households at or below 150 percent of the federal poverty guidelines can request a full fee waiver by filing Form I-912 with the I-90. Form I-90 is specifically listed as eligible.⁴

How To Pay

Online filers pay through Pay.gov. Paper filers can pay only two ways: credit or debit card via Form G-1450, or an ACH bank account debit via Form G-1650. USCIS no longer accepts personal checks, money orders, or cashier’s checks for paper filings, and a payment in those forms will get the entire package rejected.⁵

Submitting the Application

Online

Create a USCIS online account, complete the digital I-90, upload scans of your marriage certificate and supporting documents, sign electronically, and pay through Pay.gov. Case status updates appear in the same account.

By Mail

Send the completed I-90, payment form (G-1450 or G-1650), and supporting documents to the USCIS Phoenix Lockbox. The address depends on your shipping method:²

U.S. Postal Service: 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

The courier address moved from the former Skyharbor Circle location to Tempe, so verify the current address on the USCIS website before sending anything if you’re working from an older guide.⁶

What Happens After You File

USCIS sends a receipt notice (Form I-797C) within about 30 days. It carries a 13-character receipt number you can plug into the Case Status Online tool.

Next comes a biometrics appointment notice. At the appointment, USCIS collects fingerprints, a photograph, and a signature, which feed both the background check and the production of your new card. Bring the appointment notice and a valid photo ID.⁷

Total time from filing to a new card in the mail runs several months and varies with USCIS workload. Current estimates are posted on the USCIS site.

If You Need Proof of Status While You Wait

Call the USCIS Contact Center at 800-375-5283 with your I-90 receipt number to request a temporary I-551 stamp. USCIS may schedule an appointment at your local field office or mail the stamp on a printed I-94. It’s typically valid for one year.

When to Skip I-90

Conditional Residents Filing Form I-751

If you have a two-year conditional Green Card from marriage, you can update your name when you file Form I-751 to remove the conditions. Submit the petition under your new married name with your marriage certificate as evidence, and USCIS will issue the new 10-year card in your updated name. No separate I-90 filing or fee.

Applicants Close to Naturalization

If citizenship is on the near horizon, you can request the name change through Form N-400 instead. At your interview, the officer records the request and has you sign a name change petition, which USCIS files with a court. A federal judge legally changes your name at the oath ceremony, and you receive the signed petition as evidence.⁸

Two trade-offs to know. Requesting a name change routes you to a judicial oath ceremony rather than an administrative one, since only a court can authorize the change, and judicial ceremonies depend on court scheduling. And you won’t receive a new Green Card because the endpoint is a Certificate of Naturalization, which you’ll then use to update your passport, license, and other records. If naturalization is more than a year or two away, waiting may not be worth it.

Traveling Before Your New Card Arrives

Your existing Green Card remains valid for re-entry to the United States in your former name. Customs and Border Protection confirms that permanent residents who change their name through marriage can travel on a card showing the prior name, provided they carry proof of the name change progression such as a marriage certificate.⁹

The airline side is the tighter constraint. TSA’s Secure Flight program requires the name on your boarding pass to closely match the name on the ID you present at security. Book your ticket under whichever name is on the ID you’ll show at the checkpoint. If you’re unsure, contact TSA at tsa-contactcenter@tsa.dhs.gov before you travel.⁹

1
Social Security Administration. How Do I Change or Correct My Name on My Social Security Number Card
2
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. I-90, Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card (Green Card)
3
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. USCIS Form I-90 Instructions
4
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Form I-912, Instructions for Request for Fee Waiver
5
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. USCIS to Modernize Fee Payments With Electronic Funds
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U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. New Filing Address for Courier Delivery Services to USCIS Phoenix Lockbox
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U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Preparing for Your Biometric Services Appointment
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U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Commonly Asked Questions About the Naturalization Process
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U.S. Customs and Border Protection. US Citizens/Lawful Permanent Residents Name Does Not Match Documents