How to Schedule a USCIS I-551 Stamp Appointment

To schedule a USCIS I-551 stamp appointment, call the USCIS Contact Center at 800-375-5283 or request an appointment through the myUSCIS portal at my.uscis.gov. A representative will verify your identity and the status of your pending application, then either book an in-person visit at your local field office or arrange to mail you a stamped Form I-94 without an appointment.

The I-551 stamp, also called an ADIT stamp, is temporary proof that you are a lawful permanent resident. It carries the same legal weight as the physical green card and is valid for up to one year.

Before You Call or Request Online

Gather your documents and key numbers before you start. USCIS advises callers to have their receipt notice and a copy of the pending application on hand.¹

Your A-number, receipt number, and date of birth.
Your Form I-797 receipt notice for the pending application (I-90, I-751, I-829, or N-400).
Your valid, unexpired passport. If you do not have one, USCIS can stamp a Form I-94 instead.
Your expired green card, if you still have it.
Your current physical mailing address, and whether it can accept UPS or FedEx delivery.

You should be requesting a stamp because USCIS has already confirmed your permanent resident status and something is bridging the gap to a physical card. The common situations are a pending Form I-90 to replace a lost, stolen, destroyed, or expired card; a pending Form I-751 or I-829 to remove conditions on a two-year card; a pending Form N-400 where your card and any extension notice have expired; or a recent admission as a permanent resident where the card has not arrived yet.²

A Note on Photos

As of December 2025, USCIS no longer accepts self-submitted photos for creating immigration documents. For the mail process, USCIS pulls your photo from its own systems. If you appear in person and USCIS has no usable photo on file, the officer will take one at the field office.³

Two Ways to Request the Appointment

Call the USCIS Contact Center

Dial 800-375-5283, or 800-767-1833 for TTY. Live agents answer Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern. Tell the representative you need temporary evidence of your permanent resident status. The representative will verify your identity, check the status of your pending application, and decide whether you need to visit a field office or can receive the stamp by mail.¹

Request Through myUSCIS

The myUSCIS portal at my.uscis.gov lists “ADIT Stamp” as one of the appointment types you can request directly. If the online tool cannot resolve your situation, it will send you to the Contact Center.⁴

When You Get the Stamp by Mail Instead

Not every request ends in an appointment. USCIS uses a mail delivery process that lets many permanent residents receive a stamped Form I-94 without visiting a field office. On the call, the representative confirms three things: your identity, your physical mailing address, and whether that address can accept UPS or FedEx express delivery. If all three check out, the representative submits your request to a local field office, and the office mails you a Form I-94 bearing the ADIT stamp, a DHS seal, and a photo pulled from USCIS systems.²

The mailed document has the same legal weight as a passport stamp for employment verification and re-entry into the country.⁵

You will still need an in-person appointment if you have an urgent travel need, USCIS does not have a usable photo of you on file, or the representative cannot confirm your identity or address over the phone.²

What Happens at the Field Office Visit

Bring your appointment notice, your passport, your Form I-797 receipt notice, and any other status evidence you have. An immigration officer reviews the documents, verifies that your permanent resident status is valid, and confirms that your replacement card or petition is actively being processed.

If everything checks out, the officer places the I-551 stamp directly into your passport. The stamp includes your A-number and an expiration date. USCIS has discretion over the validity period, which cannot exceed one year unless a specific regulation or policy says otherwise.² Without a valid passport, the officer can place the stamp on a Form I-94 instead, along with a DHS seal and photo. Either version is legally acceptable proof of your status.

Asking for a Faster Appointment for Urgent Travel

If you need to travel on short notice, say so when you call. USCIS can prioritize appointments for pressing needs. Examples the agency treats as urgent include a medical emergency requiring treatment abroad, the death or serious illness of a family member, and professional or academic commitments requiring travel within 15 days. Bring documentation supporting your claim, such as a death certificate, medical records, or a travel itinerary. Any document in a language other than English must include a certified English translation.⁶

Renewing the Stamp if It Expires First

Green card processing delays are common, and your stamp can expire while USCIS is still working on the underlying application. When that happens, go through the same request process again: call the Contact Center or use myUSCIS, verify your identity, and either receive a new stamped Form I-94 by mail or schedule another field office visit. There is no limit on how many times you can renew the stamp as long as your underlying application remains pending and your status is still valid.²

Do not let the stamp lapse if you need to prove your status for work or travel. An expired stamp is not accepted for Form I-9 purposes, and airlines may refuse to board you. Start the renewal request early rather than waiting until the last day.

1
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. USCIS Contact Center
2
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. USCIS Announces Additional Mail Delivery Process for Receiving ADIT Stamp
3
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. New Photo Policy Helps Prevent Immigration Fraud Through Enhanced Identity Verification
4
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. myUSCIS – Schedule an Appointment
5
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Temporary Status Documentation for Lawful Permanent Residents (LPR)
6
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Emergency Travel