Green Card Renewal Form I-90 Step by Step (2026 Guide)

Form I-90 renews or replaces a green card. File within the 6 months before expiration if your card is expiring, or immediately if it is lost, stolen, damaged, or has incorrect information. USCIS captures your new photo, fingerprints, and signature at a biometrics appointment, so you do not upload a photo with the application. If you need evidence of permanent resident status while waiting, request an ADIT stamp at a USCIS field office.

This guide is informational and not legal advice. Verify the current rules on the official USCIS or travel.state.gov page linked at the end.

I-90 covers four broad scenarios: routine renewal, replacement, correction, and special cases for permanent residents whose status documents need updating.

Renewal: file within the 6 months before your 10-year green card expires. Filing earlier than 6 months can cause USCIS to reject the application; filing later means a period of expired card status. The expiration date is printed on the back of the card. The 10-year clock runs from the issue date.

Conditional residents with 2-year green cards do NOT use I-90 for renewal. They file Form I-751 (marriage cases) or Form I-829 (EB-5 investor cases) to remove conditions, not I-90. Filing I-90 on a conditional card results in rejection.

Replacement for lost, stolen, destroyed, or damaged cards: file immediately when you realize the card is missing or unusable. For lost or stolen cards, file a police report first if local procedures require it. Damaged cards (worn, broken, missing chip) should be filed for replacement even if the card is technically still readable.

Correction for incorrect information: file if your name, date of birth, biographic information, or category code is incorrect on the card. Correction filings require evidence of the correct information (court order for name change, birth certificate for date of birth correction). Errors caused by USCIS are corrected at no cost; errors caused by the applicant's prior submission carry the standard filing fee.

Other scenarios:

• Reached age 14: green card holders who first received the card before age 14 must file I-90 within 30 days of turning 14 to update biometrics.
• Commuter-status change: permanent residents living in Mexico or Canada who change from commuter to actual residence (or vice versa).
• Card never received: USCIS issued a green card but the card never arrived at the applicant's address. File I-90 with evidence of the original approval.

The I-90 filing requirements are simpler than most USCIS forms because the green card itself establishes the underlying eligibility.

Documents needed:

• Form I-90: the main application. E-filing through myUSCIS is available and usually faster than paper filing.
• Copy of current or expired green card: front and back. For lost or stolen cards, include any photocopies you previously made, or note in the application that you do not have a copy.
• Police report: for stolen cards if local police accept theft reports (some do not for routine document theft).
• Evidence for corrections: court order for name change, certified birth certificate for date of birth correction, marriage certificate for name change due to marriage.
• Filing fee: pay the I-90 filing fee plus the biometric services fee at filing. Online filings accept credit card; paper filings accept check or money order.
• Translations: any non-English supporting documents need certified English translations.

What you do NOT include:

• Photo: USCIS captures the new photo at the biometrics appointment. Do not upload or attach a printed photo with the application.
• Affidavit of support: I-90 is not a status-conferring application; no I-864 is needed.
• Medical exam: not required for I-90.

Online filing through myUSCIS is the recommended path in 2026. Online filings are processed slightly faster on average (8 to 11 months vs 10 to 14 months for paper) and provide real-time case status updates. Online filing also avoids mailroom delays and lost-package risk.

Receipts are issued within minutes of online filing and within 2 to 4 weeks of paper filing. The receipt notice (Form I-797C) extends the validity of the green card by either 24 months (renewals filed before expiration) or 36 months (for some replacement filings), making the receipt notice useful for proving continued status while waiting.

USCIS encourages online I-90 filings through myUSCIS, the online portal. Online filing is faster, cheaper in some cases, and easier to track.

Online filing through myUSCIS:

• Create a free myUSCIS account if you do not have one.
• Start a new I-90 case and answer the structured questions. The portal validates entries and prevents some common errors.
• Upload supporting documents in PDF or JPEG format.
• Pay the filing fee and biometric services fee with credit card or bank transfer.
• Submit and receive a receipt notice within minutes.
• Monitor case status through the portal. USCIS sends updates electronically.

Paper filing by mail:

• Download Form I-90 from uscis.gov and complete it by hand or with software.
• Make a copy of the green card.
• Pay by check or money order made out to "U.S. Department of Homeland Security."
• Mail to the appropriate USCIS lockbox (the address varies by state of residence; check the I-90 form instructions for the current lockbox addresses).
• Receive a receipt notice within 2 to 4 weeks.
• Monitor status through the receipt number at uscis.gov/case-status.

For most applicants, online filing is the better choice. The only reasons to use paper:

• You need a fee waiver (Form I-912 is paper-only).
• You do not have a credit card and cannot pay online.
• You have complex supporting documents that are easier to submit in paper form.
• You are filing with multiple linked applications.

Both paths reach the same USCIS processing system. The difference is mostly speed and convenience at filing, not adjudication speed once received.

USCIS schedules a biometrics appointment within 4 to 8 weeks after I-90 filing. The appointment is at an Application Support Center (ASC) near the applicant's US address. The appointment is short, usually 15 to 30 minutes.

What happens at biometrics:

• Fingerprinting: all 10 fingerprints are captured digitally.
• Photo capture: a fresh digital photo is taken. This is the photo USCIS uses on the new green card.
• Signature capture: digital signature for the green card.
• Document review: the ASC technician verifies your identity against the biometrics appointment notice and your government-issued ID.

What to bring:

• The biometrics appointment notice (Form I-797C).
• Government-issued photo ID: passport, current green card (even if expired), or driver's license.
• For lost or stolen green card cases, bring evidence of your status: a copy of the original green card if you have one, prior tax returns, or other documents.

Dress neatly for the photo. The biometrics photo appears on the new green card and is part of your permanent USCIS record. Avoid bold colors that blend with the ASC background, do not wear glasses unless medically necessary, and ensure your face is fully visible. The ASC technician will instruct you on positioning.

Rescheduling biometrics is allowed for valid reasons. Submit a written request through myUSCIS or by mail at least 24 hours before the appointment. USCIS reschedules typically within 4 to 8 weeks.

Missing biometrics without rescheduling can lead to administrative closure of the case. USCIS sends a no-show notice and offers a chance to request rescheduling, but persistent no-shows result in I-90 denial.

The biometrics photo is the operative photo for the new green card. Do not worry about printing photos at home for I-90; you do not submit one with the application.

I-90 processing in 2026 takes 7 to 12 months for most cases, sometimes longer. During processing, your old green card may expire. The receipt notice extends green card validity (24 or 36 months from the receipt notice date), but some employers, banks, and government agencies do not accept the receipt notice alone as proof of permanent resident status.

If you need stronger evidence of status during processing, request an ADIT (Alien Documentation, Identification, and Telecommunications) stamp at a USCIS field office. The ADIT stamp is a temporary I-551 stamp placed in your passport. It looks similar to the immigrant visa stamp issued at consular processing but is for permanent residents whose green card is being replaced or renewed.

To get an ADIT stamp:

1. Schedule an InfoPass appointment: log in to myUSCIS and request an in-person appointment at the field office serving your address. Indicate the reason as "ADIT stamp / I-551 stamp."
2. Attend the appointment: bring your passport, the I-90 receipt notice, your expired or expiring green card if you have it, and any evidence of need (employer letter requiring proof of status, bank documentation, real estate transaction, etc.).
3. Receive the stamp: the officer places an I-551 stamp in your passport, dated and valid typically for 1 year.

The ADIT stamp is full evidence of permanent resident status. It is accepted by employers for I-9 verification, by airlines for boarding, by banks for account opening, and by federal agencies for most purposes.

If your passport is expiring, you can request the stamp in a new passport, or in the expiring passport with instructions to transfer to the new one when ready. USCIS field offices have varying procedures; check the local office instructions.

The ADIT stamp is interim. Once your new green card arrives, the stamp is no longer needed for new purposes, but it remains valid in the passport until its expiration.

Conditional residents hold a 2-year green card, not a 10-year card. The conditional period applies to:

• CR1 / CR2: spouses and children of US citizens when the marriage was less than 2 years old at green card issuance.
• EB-5 investors: who received a conditional green card based on a qualifying investment that needs to be verified after 2 years.

Conditional residents do NOT use I-90 to renew their card. They file a different form to remove the conditions:

• Form I-751: marriage-based conditional residents. File jointly with the US citizen spouse, or individually with a waiver request, during the 90 days before the conditional card expires. The packet includes updated bona fide marriage evidence (joint accounts, joint housing, joint travel, photos, etc.) covering the conditional period.
• Form I-829: EB-5 investor conditional residents. File during the 90 days before the conditional card expires with evidence the investment was sustained, the required jobs were created, and the business operated as required.

USCIS automatically extends the conditional green card via the I-751 or I-829 receipt notice, usually for 48 months or longer if processing exceeds the extension period.

Conditional residents who erroneously file I-90 will have the case rejected. Refile the correct form (I-751 or I-829) promptly to avoid lapse.

Conditional residents who miss the 90-day filing window can sometimes file late with an explanation of good cause. Late filings are scrutinized more carefully, and persistent late filings can result in termination of permanent resident status and removal proceedings.

When I-751 or I-829 is finally approved, USCIS issues a 10-year unconditional green card. From that point forward, future renewals use I-90.

I-90 itself does not require a photo. USCIS captures the new biometric photo at the Application Support Center during the biometrics appointment. The captured photo becomes the photo on the new green card. The applicant does not need to upload a digital photo with the filing or bring a printed photo to biometrics. If you ever need a passport-style photo for related documents (passport renewal, REAL ID, employer I-9), use our photo validator and review our green card photo rules before printing.