How to Renew Your Green Card

A Permanent Resident Card, commonly called a green card, is official evidence that a person has lawful permanent resident status in the United States. Most standard green cards are valid for 10 years and must be renewed when they expire or are approaching expiration.

An expired card does not ordinarily terminate lawful permanent resident status. However, it can create practical problems when proving authorization to work, returning from international travel, applying for government benefits, or completing other identification-related processes.

The Department of Homeland Security estimated that approximately 12.8 million lawful permanent residents were living in the United States as of January 1, 2024. With millions of residents relying on green cards as evidence of their immigration status, understanding the renewal process is important.

When Should You Renew a Green Card?

A lawful permanent resident should generally file for renewal when a 10-year green card:

Has already expired
Will expire within the next six months
Contains outdated biographical information
Has become damaged or unreadable
Was issued in an older version that should be replaced

The same application is also used when a green card has been lost, stolen, destroyed, or never received. A cardholder may also need a replacement after legally changing their name or when the card contains incorrect information.

Filing substantially earlier than six months before the expiration date may be unnecessary. USCIS can reject an application submitted solely for renewal when the existing card is not yet within the permitted renewal period.

Step 1: Confirm That Form I-90 Is Appropriate

Most permanent residents renew or replace a green card by filing Form I-90, Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card.

Applicants must select the correct reason for filing. The supporting documents and filing requirements may differ depending on whether the card:

Is expiring
Has been lost or stolen
Is damaged
Contains a government error
Contains information that changed after issuance
Was issued but never delivered

Selecting the wrong filing reason can lead to additional evidence requests, an incorrect fee, or processing delays.

Conditional Residents Should Not Use I-90 for Renewal

A two-year conditional green card cannot normally be renewed through Form I-90. Conditional residents must apply to remove the conditions on their status.

A person who received conditional residence through marriage generally files Form I-751. A conditional resident who obtained status through qualifying investment generally files Form I-829. USCIS warns that failing to remove conditions can result in the loss of permanent resident status.

Form I-90 may still be appropriate for a conditional resident whose unexpired card was lost, stolen, damaged, or issued with incorrect information. It is not the correct form for extending the underlying two-year conditional status.

Step 2: Gather the Required Documents

Applicants renewing an expiring card generally submit a copy of the front and back of their current green card.

Additional documentation may be required in other situations. Examples include:

A passport or government-issued photo identification
A police report for a stolen card
A marriage certificate or court order showing a legal name change
A birth certificate or passport establishing correct biographical information
The original card when USCIS printed incorrect information
Evidence showing that a previously issued card was never received

When USCIS caused an error, the applicant may need to return the incorrect original card with evidence establishing the correct information. When the information changed after the card was issued, such as through marriage or a court-ordered name change, different fee and documentation rules may apply.

Step 3: File Form I-90

Form I-90 can generally be filed online through a USCIS account or submitted on paper by mail.

Online filing allows applicants to complete the form electronically, upload supporting documents, receive notices, check case status, and communicate with USCIS. Paper filers can still create an online account after receiving an account-acceptance notice.

Applicants should use the current form edition and follow the filing instructions available on the USCIS website. Immigration forms and fees can change, so an applicant should confirm the correct amount through the official USCIS fee schedule or fee calculator immediately before filing.

A fee waiver may be available to certain applicants who demonstrate an inability to pay and satisfy USCIS requirements. A fee-waiver request generally requires a paper filing rather than a standard online submission.

Individuals who are uncertain about the proper form, prior immigration records, criminal history, extended international travel, or conditional status may seek Legal help to renew green card before submitting the application.

Step 4: Receive the Extension Notice

USCIS currently issues Form I-90 renewal receipt notices that extend the validity of an expired or expiring green card for 36 months from the expiration date printed on the card.

The applicant can present the expired green card together with the Form I-797 receipt notice as temporary evidence of lawful permanent resident status, employment authorization, and authorization to return to the United States following temporary travel.

The extension applies to properly filed renewal applications. Someone replacing a lost or stolen card cannot present the missing card with the receipt notice and may need different temporary evidence.

When urgent proof of status is required, a permanent resident may request an appointment with USCIS to obtain temporary evidence, sometimes provided through an Alien Documentation, Identification and Telecommunication stamp.

Step 5: Attend the Biometrics Appointment

USCIS may schedule the applicant for a biometrics appointment at an Application Support Center. Biometrics can include:

Fingerprints
A photograph
A digital signature
Identity verification

USCIS sends a notice stating the appointment’s date, time, and location. Missing the appointment without properly rescheduling it can cause the application to be treated as abandoned and denied.

Applicants should bring the appointment notice and acceptable identification. USCIS may reuse previously collected biometrics in some cases, in which case the applicant will receive a notice explaining that a new appointment is unnecessary.

Step 6: Respond to USCIS Notices

USCIS may issue a Request for Evidence when documents are missing, unclear, or inconsistent. The applicant must respond by the deadline listed in the notice.

Common problems that can delay or jeopardize an application include:

Filing an outdated form
Selecting the wrong application reason
Paying an incorrect fee
Failing to submit supporting identification
Missing a biometrics appointment
Failing to update a mailing address
Ignoring a Request for Evidence

Applicants can monitor their case through their USCIS online account or the agency’s case-status system.

Can You Travel With an Expired Green Card?

A permanent resident with an expired card and a valid 36-month Form I-90 extension notice can generally use the two documents together as temporary evidence of status.

Travel may be more complicated when the card was lost or stolen. A resident already outside the United States without a valid card may need to file Form I-131A for carrier documentation before an airline permits travel back to the country.

Lengthy international travel can also raise questions about whether the person abandoned permanent residence. Renewing a card does not resolve abandonment concerns created by extended absences.

Does an Expired Card Mean Your Status Expired?

The expiration of a standard 10-year card does not ordinarily mean that lawful permanent resident status has ended. The card is evidence of status rather than the source of the status itself.

Nevertheless, permanent residents age 18 or older are generally expected to carry valid evidence of registration. Maintaining an unexpired card also makes it easier to establish identity and immigration status for employment, travel, financial, and government purposes.

Key Takeaways

Most lawful permanent residents renew an expiring 10-year green card by filing Form I-90 online or by mail. Applicants should select the correct filing reason, provide supporting documentation, pay the applicable fee, and attend biometrics when required.

A properly filed renewal application currently produces a receipt notice extending the card’s validity for 36 months from its printed expiration date. The expired card and receipt notice should generally be kept together as temporary proof of status.

Conditional residents should not use Form I-90 merely to renew a two-year card. They must file the appropriate petition to remove conditions before the card expires. Careful preparation is important because an incorrect form, missed appointment, outdated address, or incomplete response can delay the replacement card.