Start with the reason the card needs attention
Lawful permanent residents generally use Form I-90 to renew an expired or soon-to-expire 10-year Green Card or replace a card that was lost, stolen, mutilated, destroyed, or issued with incorrect information. USCIS says a renewal may be filed when the card has expired or will expire within six months.
The supporting evidence and payment responsibility can differ depending on the reason selected. A card containing a government printing error is not the same filing situation as a lost card or a legal name change. Choose the reason that accurately describes what happened and attach the evidence requested in the current instructions.
- Copy the front and back of the current card when it is available.
- Preserve police, insurance, or incident records for a stolen card when applicable.
- Use registered civil or court records for a legal name change.
- Confirm the current 01/20/25 form edition and fee on the USCIS Form I-90 page before filing.
Understand the 36-month receipt extension
For a properly filed Form I-90 renewal, USCIS says the receipt notice, presented together with the expired Green Card, extends proof of lawful permanent resident status and work authorization for 36 months from the expiration date printed on the card.
That document combination matters: the receipt notice is not a replacement card, and a person who no longer has the physical card cannot rely on the combination. After filing Form I-90, someone who needs temporary evidence may contact USCIS about an appointment for an Alien Documentation, Identification and Telecommunications stamp, commonly called an ADIT stamp.
- Store the original receipt notice with the expired card.
- Carry copies separately when traveling, while protecting the originals.
- Update the mailing address immediately if a move occurs while Form I-90 is pending.
- Do not assume every I-90 filing receives the same extension language; read the actual notice.
Conditional residents use a different path
A two-year conditional Green Card is not renewed through Form I-90 simply because it is expiring. USCIS directs marriage-based conditional residents to Form I-751 and qualifying investor conditional residents to Form I-829 to request removal of conditions.
Form I-90 may still be relevant to replace a conditional card that was lost, stolen, damaged, or incorrectly issued, but it does not remove the underlying conditions. Filing the wrong form can create delay while a statutory deadline continues to run.
- Check whether the card is valid for two years or 10 years.
- Do not use Form I-90 to avoid an I-751 or I-829 filing requirement.
- Seek licensed legal advice for late filings, criminal history, extended travel, abandonment concerns, or disputed status.