How do you renew your green card? A complete Form I-90 walkthrough

Your permanent resident status stays valid even after your green card expires. The card itself runs out every ten years, and renewing it is a separate USCIS filing called Form I-90, Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card. This guide walks through when to file, how to do it online or on paper, what the fees look like in 2026, how long USCIS is taking right now, and how to prove your status while the new card is on its way.

When should you renew your green card?

You should renew your green card by filing Form I-90 within six months of the expiration date on your current card. USCIS recommends that six-month window because processing typically takes most of a year, and filing earlier ensures the receipt notice arrives before the card expires. If your card is already expired, you can still file, and the receipt notice will extend your card's validity automatically.

A few less common renewal scenarios also use Form I-90: a lost, stolen, or damaged card, a name change, and corrections to information that USCIS printed wrong. The form covers all of these, but the document requirements change depending on the reason. Here's how each renewal scenario maps to the right form and the right supporting documents:

Standard 10-year card renewal

The standard 10-year green card is issued to lawful permanent residents who completed their conditional residence (or were never on it) and don't have any other status changes pending. Renewal is straightforward: confirm the expiration date on your card, file Form I-90 within the six-month window before it expires, pay the filing fee, attend biometrics, and wait for the new card. Most filings in this category are routine and don't need an attorney.

Lost, stolen, or damaged card replacement

If your green card was lost, stolen, or damaged, you also file Form I-90, but the supporting documents and the urgency are different. For a lost or stolen card, USCIS recommends filing a police report (especially if the card was stolen abroad) and including a copy of the report with the I-90. If the card is damaged, include the damaged card with the filing if you still have it. Damaged-card filings are usually fast because USCIS just needs to verify your identity and reprint the card.

Name change or correction on your card

If you legally changed your name (marriage, divorce, court order) or USCIS misprinted information on your card, Form I-90 is also the right form. For a name change, include certified copies of the legal documents that show the new name (marriage certificate, divorce decree, or court order). For a USCIS printing error, include a copy of the incorrect card and an explanation of the error. USCIS doesn't charge an additional fee for correcting their own mistakes.

Conditional residence: use Form I-751 instead

If your green card is valid for only 2 years rather than 10, you're a conditional permanent resident, and you do not use Form I-90 to renew. Two-year cards are conditional, issued to people who got their green card through marriage to a U.S. citizen or through the EB-5 investor program. To convert from conditional to permanent residence, you file Form I-751 (Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence), not Form I-90. Filing the wrong form here is one of the most common mistakes, and we'll come back to it in the common mistakes section.

How to renew your green card step by step

Filing Form I-90 takes five steps. The whole process can be done online, which is faster and cheaper. If you don't have a USCIS online account, you can also file by paper, but allow extra time for mailing and intake.

Step 1: confirm you need Form I-90

Pull out your current green card and check the expiration date on the front. If the card is valid for 10 years and is within 6 months of expiring (or already expired), Form I-90 is the right form. If the card is valid for 2 years, stop and switch to Form I-751: that's the conditional residence form, and we have a separate process for those filings.

The other scenarios that use Form I-90 are: lost or stolen card, damaged card, legal name change, USCIS error on the card, and reaching age 14 while holding a card issued before age 14 (USCIS issues a replacement card after a child turns 14).

Step 2: create a USCIS online account

Filing online saves time and money. To file online, go to my.uscis.gov, create an account if you don't have one, and choose Form I-90 from the list of available filings. The online portal walks you through every question on the form, lets you upload supporting documents directly, and saves your progress so you can return to it. The online filing fee is $50 cheaper than the paper fee, which we'll cover in the next section.

If you prefer paper or your filing requires documents that don't upload cleanly, you can still file on paper. Download the current version of Form I-90 from USCIS Form I-90 and follow the instructions for the correct Lockbox mailing address.

Step 3: complete Form I-90

The form itself is short: identification, current immigration status, the reason for the application, and biographic information. For online filings, the portal asks the same questions in plain-language order. The most important fields to get right are the reason for renewal (USCIS uses this to know which documents to expect) and your current address (USCIS sends the new card to that address, so make sure it's accurate).

If you've moved since your last filing, update your address with USCIS using the change-of-address process before or alongside the I-90, so the new card doesn't get sent to your old place.

Step 4: pay the filing fee

USCIS accepts payment by credit card, debit card, or bank account (ACH) for online filings. For paper filings, you pay by check or money order made out to "U.S. Department of Homeland Security," or by credit card using Form G-1450. The fee is $415 if you file online and $465 if you file by paper. There is no separate biometrics fee for Form I-90: biometrics are included in the current filing fee.

If paying the fee is a hardship, USCIS does allow fee waiver requests for Form I-90 in limited situations, filed on Form I-912.

Step 5: submit online or by paper

For online filings, click submit once everything is complete and pay the fee through the portal. You'll receive an immediate confirmation, followed by a USCIS receipt notice (Form I-797) within a few business days. For paper filings, mail the completed form, fee, and supporting documents to the USCIS Lockbox address listed in the I-90 instructions for your state. USCIS processes the intake and mails an I-797 receipt notice to you within 2 to 4 weeks.

Form I-90 filing fee in 2026

The Form I-90 filing fee in 2026 is $415 for online filings and $465 for paper filings, with biometrics included. This fee structure took effect with the April 2024 USCIS fee rule and applies to most I-90 filings, including standard 10-year renewals, lost or stolen card replacements, and damaged card replacements.

Online filing fee

The online filing fee is $415, which is a $50 discount from the paper fee. USCIS encourages online filing because it speeds up intake and reduces paperwork errors. The fee covers the I-90 filing itself and the biometrics appointment that follows. Online filings also give you a tracker in your USCIS account where you can see receipt, biometrics scheduling, card production, and mailing status.

Paper filing fee

The paper filing fee is $465. The extra $50 covers the cost of intake at the USCIS Lockbox. The biometrics appointment is still included. Paper filing makes sense if your supporting documents are physical or if you don't want to maintain a USCIS online account, but expect a longer intake time before the receipt notice arrives.

Fee waiver options

USCIS allows fee waivers for Form I-90 in limited situations, filed on Form I-912 along with your I-90 application. The waiver is available if you're currently receiving a means-tested benefit, your household income is at or below 150% of the federal poverty guidelines, or you can show financial hardship. USCIS reviews fee waiver requests case by case, and approval isn't automatic.

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What documents do you need to renew a green card?

The supporting documents depend on why you're renewing. Most standard renewals need only a copy of your expiring card. Specialized cases (lost or stolen, name change, USCIS error) need additional supporting evidence. Always file copies, not originals, unless USCIS specifically requests an original.

Copy of your expiring or current green card

For a standard 10-year renewal, you need a clear copy of the front and back of your expiring green card. If your card is already expired, USCIS still wants the copy because the card number and category code tell them how to issue the replacement. For a damaged card, include the damaged card itself with the paper filing, or upload clear photos of both sides for an online filing.

Name change documents (if applicable)

If you're renewing because of a legal name change, include certified copies of the relevant document: marriage certificate, divorce decree with the name-change order, or court order changing your name. USCIS doesn't accept informal name changes (just using a new name without a legal document is not enough). The new name on your I-90 must match the legal document exactly.

Court records or police reports (if lost or stolen)

If your green card was lost or stolen, especially abroad, USCIS recommends filing a police report and including a copy with your I-90. The police report isn't strictly required, but it strengthens the filing and helps if the card is later used fraudulently. If your card was lost in the U.S., a written explanation of when and where you lost it is usually enough.

What happens after you file Form I-90?

Once USCIS receives your filing, three things happen in sequence: a receipt notice arrives, a biometrics appointment gets scheduled, and the new card eventually gets produced and mailed.

Receipt notice and the 36-month extension

USCIS sends a Form I-797 receipt notice within 2 to 4 weeks of intake. The receipt notice does two important things. First, it confirms USCIS received your filing and gives you a case number for tracking. Second, it includes language that automatically extends the validity of your expiring or expired green card for 36 months from the date on the front of your current card. That 36-month extension is the current USCIS rule (it replaced the older 24-month sticker in 2024), and it means your existing green card plus the I-90 receipt notice serve as valid proof of permanent resident status while you wait for the new card.

Biometrics appointment

After the receipt notice, USCIS schedules a biometrics appointment at a local Application Support Center. The appointment usually happens 6 to 10 weeks after filing. At the appointment, USCIS takes fingerprints, a photo, and a signature, all of which feed into the new card. There's no separate fee for biometrics; it's included in the I-90 filing fee.

In some cases, USCIS reuses biometrics from a prior filing instead of scheduling a new appointment. You'll see a "Biometrics Reused" status in your case file if that happens.

New green card delivery

After biometrics, USCIS produces and mails the new card. The card arrives by USPS Priority Mail to the address on file. Always check your USCIS online account or your I-797 status to confirm the address before the card ships. If USPS can't deliver, the card goes back to USCIS and you have to request reshipment, which adds weeks.

How long does it take to renew a green card?

Form I-90 processing time in 2026 typically runs 8 to 12 months from filing to new card in hand, with online filings often closer to the lower end. The exact number depends on the field office and USCIS workload at the time of filing.

Typical USCIS processing time

For standard 10-year renewals filed online, expect a receipt notice within 2 to 4 weeks, biometrics within 6 to 10 weeks, and the new card within 8 to 12 months total. For paper filings, add another 2 to 4 weeks for intake. Lost-or-stolen replacements and name-change filings typically run in the same range. USCIS posts current Form I-90 processing times on its processing times tool.

How to track your case

The fastest way to track your case is through your USCIS online account at my.uscis.gov. Once your receipt notice is issued, the case shows up in your account with real-time status updates (receipt, biometrics scheduled, biometrics completed, card produced, card mailed, card delivered). For paper filings, you can also track using the receipt number on the USCIS case status tool.

What to do while waiting for your new green card

The waiting period sometimes overlaps with travel, a job change, or a status check at the airport. Your I-797 receipt notice and your existing green card cover most of these situations, but two specific scenarios may need an extra document: international travel and proof of work authorization to a new employer.

Using the receipt notice as proof of status

For most day-to-day situations (showing proof of status to a landlord, a state DMV, a bank, or an employer running an I-9 form check at work), your existing green card plus the I-797 receipt notice with the 36-month extension language is enough. The receipt notice explicitly states that it extends your card's validity, and employers and government offices that handle I-9 verifications are trained to recognize it.

Requesting an ADIT (I-551) stamp

If your green card is expired or close to expired, or if you need to travel internationally and your physical card is missing or expired, you can request an ADIT stamp (also called an I-551 stamp). The ADIT stamp is a temporary I-551 marker placed in your passport by USCIS at a local field office, and it serves as evidence of permanent resident status for travel and work.

When you need an ADIT stamp for travel

For international travel, an ADIT stamp is useful when you don't have your physical green card in hand (it's expired and the new one hasn't arrived, or it was lost or stolen). The stamp is recognized by U.S. Customs and Border Protection at the port of entry and by foreign immigration authorities. To request one, call the USCIS Contact Center to schedule an InfoPass appointment at your local field office and bring your passport, your I-797 receipt notice, and any old card you still have.

When you need an ADIT stamp for work

For new employers running an I-9 verification, the receipt notice plus your old card is usually enough. But if your physical card is missing entirely and the employer's HR team isn't satisfied with the receipt notice alone, the ADIT stamp gives you a clear, USCIS-issued document showing permanent resident status. Some HR teams are more comfortable with the stamp because it appears directly in your passport.

Common mistakes when renewing a green card

Most Form I-90 filings go smoothly. The mistakes that do come up tend to be repeats of the same handful of issues, all of which are easy to avoid if you check carefully before filing.

Filing Form I-90 instead of Form I-751

This is the single most common error. If your green card is valid for only 2 years, you're a conditional permanent resident, and you cannot use Form I-90. You file Form I-751 to remove the conditions on your residence. Filing the wrong form here results in a denial of the I-90, loss of the filing fee, and (more importantly) potential problems with your conditional residence if you miss the I-751 filing window. Always check the validity period on your card before starting an I-90.

Incorrect filing fee or payment method

USCIS rejects filings with the wrong fee amount or an unsigned check. The fee is $415 online and $465 by paper. Checks must be signed and made out to "U.S. Department of Homeland Security" exactly (not USCIS, not DHS). Online payments must go through and confirm in the portal before USCIS counts the filing as received.

Outdated address on file with USCIS

USCIS mails the new green card to the address on file. If you've moved and didn't update your address through the change-of-address process, the card will go to your old place. The change-of-address process is separate from Form I-90, even when filed at the same time. Always update your address with USCIS before, alongside, or right after filing your I-90. If you need an attorney's view on your renewal scenario, see our companion piece on whether you need an immigration lawyer to renew your green card.

Tukki is a U.S. immigration provider that helps lawful permanent residents handle green card renewals, replacements, and conditional-to-permanent transitions with licensed immigration attorneys and a clear view of every step in the case.

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