How to Renew Your Expired Permanent Resident Card With I-90

To renew an expired Green Card, file Form I-90, Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card, with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), either online through a USCIS account or by mail. Your lawful permanent resident status does not expire when the card does, but the card is your primary proof of that status and federal law requires you to carry it.¹ Once USCIS accepts your filing, it automatically extends the card’s validity for 36 months while the replacement is processed.²

When to File

A standard Green Card is valid for 10 years. USCIS recommends filing Form I-90 when the card has already expired or is within six months of expiring. You should also file if the card was lost, stolen, or destroyed, or if it contains incorrect biographical information. Very old cards issued without any expiration date still technically prove status, but replacing them prevents trouble at airport check-ins, employer verification, and government offices that expect the current card format.³

If Your Card Is Conditional, Don’t Use Form I-90

A conditional Green Card is valid for two years and is typically issued through marriage or investment. Conditional residents do not renew with Form I-90. Instead, you must file a petition to remove the conditions within the 90 days before the card expires: Form I-751 for marriage-based conditional residence, or Form I-829 for investment-based conditional residence. Missing that 90-day window can jeopardize your permanent resident status entirely.⁴ Before filing anything, check whether your card shows a two-year or a ten-year expiration and pick the correct form. If you file I-90 when you should have filed I-751 or I-829, the application will be denied and the fee will not be refunded.

How to File Form I-90

You can file online or by mail. Online filing is faster, gives you instant confirmation, and lets you track the case and respond to evidence requests through your account. Create a USCIS account at uscis.gov, complete the form, upload scanned copies of your supporting documents, and pay the fee electronically.³

To file by mail, print the completed form, attach copies of your supporting documents, and include payment by check or money order. The correct mailing address depends on whether you use USPS or a private courier such as FedEx or UPS, so check the form instructions. Keep copies of everything you send.

The form asks for your legal name, date of birth, mailing address, Alien Registration Number (A-Number), the date you became a permanent resident, your class of admission, and the reason you need a new card. Names and dates must match what appears on your existing card and other immigration records. Any mismatch slows things down.

What It Costs

The Form I-90 filing fee includes biometric services. USCIS updates its fee schedule periodically, so check the current amount on the USCIS Form I-90 page before filing. Online filers pay through their USCIS account; paper filers include a check or money order with the mailed application.

If you cannot afford the fee, submit Form I-912 to request a fee waiver. Eligibility is based on a demonstrated inability to pay, such as currently receiving a means-tested benefit like Medicaid or SNAP, and you must document the benefit, the agency granting it, and proof that you are currently receiving it.⁵ One catch: requesting a fee waiver rules out online filing. You must file by mail.³

Mistakes That Get Applications Rejected

USCIS rejects applications with technical errors before anyone reviews the substance. The most frequent problems are missing signatures, incorrect fee amounts, and missing supporting documents. An unsigned form is treated as if you never filed. A check for the wrong amount gets the whole package returned. Fixing these problems means starting over, which costs weeks.

What Happens After You File

USCIS sends a receipt notice (Form I-797C) confirming your filing. The notice includes a receipt number for checking case status online. Keep it with your expired Green Card at all times, because together they serve as your proof of continued lawful permanent resident status.

The 36-Month Automatic Extension

As of September 10, 2024, a properly filed Form I-90 automatically extends your Green Card’s validity for 36 months past the expiration date. The extension is noted on the receipt notice itself. Your expired card together with the receipt notice functions as valid proof of status for employment verification, travel, and other purposes for that entire 36-month window.²

Biometrics Appointment

USCIS will schedule a biometrics appointment at a local Application Support Center to collect fingerprints, a photograph, and a signature. You will receive a separate appointment notice (also a Form I-797C) with the date, time, and location. Arrive 15 minutes early for the security checkpoint. If you arrive late, USCIS will cancel the appointment and you will have to reschedule, which delays your case.⁶ Once background checks are complete and the application is approved, USCIS mails the new card to the address on file.

Proving Your Status While You Wait

Your expired Green Card plus the I-797 receipt notice showing the automatic extension is an acceptable List A document for Form I-9 employment verification, and employers should accept it for the length of the extension stated on the notice.⁷

For international travel, permanent residents can generally re-enter the United States with an expired 10-year Green Card, because U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers understand the underlying status does not expire with the card. Carrying the I-90 receipt notice with the expired card avoids unnecessary questioning at the border.

If the receipt notice is not enough for a particular situation, you can request a temporary I-551 stamp from a USCIS field office. Placed on your passport or on a Form I-94, it serves as official evidence of permanent resident status and is accepted as a List A document for Form I-9.⁸ To request the stamp, call the USCIS Contact Center at 800-375-5283. An officer will verify your identity and address, then either schedule an in-person field-office appointment or arrange for the temporary evidence to be mailed. You can also request an appointment through the myUSCIS online portal. These appointments are free.⁹

You Are Required to Carry Your Card

Federal law requires permanent residents age 18 and older to carry their registration evidence at all times. The Green Card is that evidence, and failing to carry it can result in fines and potential misdemeanor prosecution.¹⁰ Once you have filed Form I-90, carry the expired card together with the receipt notice to satisfy this requirement during the processing period.

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U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Maintaining Permanent Residence
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U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. USCIS Extends Green Card Validity Extension to 36 Months for Green Card Renewals
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U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. I-90, Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card
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U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Conditional Permanent Residence
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U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. I-912, Request for Fee Waiver
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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. Handbook for Employers M-274 – Lawful Permanent Residents (LPR)
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U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Temporary Status Documentation for Lawful Permanent Residents (LPR)
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U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Schedule an Appointment
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U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Alien Registration Requirement