Renewing or replacing a green card
A green card expires; permanent residence does not. Form I-90 renews or replaces the card when it is expiring, lost, stolen, damaged, or wrong. It is not a status application and USCIS does not re-examine eligibility for residence, though it does run background checks.
Who it is for. Lawful permanent residents with a ten-year card, and conditional residents replacing a card USCIS issued in error.
The forms, in order
- 1
Work out whether you need Form I-90 or something else
- 2
File Form I-90 online or by mail
Fee waiver available on Form I-912.
- 3
Keep the receipt notice with the expired card as proof of status
The extension is what lets people keep working and travelling while they wait.
- 4
Attend biometrics if scheduled and receive the new card
- 5
If you are stranded abroad without a valid card, apply for carrier documentation
Where it goes wrong
- An expired card does not end residence, but it does make working, travelling, and renewing a driver's licence difficult.
- Long absences abroad can cost the residence itself regardless of whether the card is valid.
- Conditional residents who file I-90 instead of I-751 lose time and money.
- Naturalising may be cheaper and better than renewing if the resident is already eligible.
What changed in 2025 and 2026
- USCIS extended I-90 receipt notice validity to 36 months in September 2024 because card production lagged behind.
- Processing time rose from 4.1 months in FY 2025 to 7.9 months in FY 2026.