OtterFillHow to fill out Form I-90
Form I-90, “Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card”, is the form you file with USCIS to renew a green card that has expired or will expire within six months, or to replace one that was lost, stolen, damaged, never received or has wrong information. You fill it in yourself if you are a permanent resident; a parent or legal guardian may sign for a child under 14.
Last checked against the official form:
- Form
- I-90
- Edition
- Edition 01/20/25
- Issued by
- U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)
- Form language
- English
- Who receives it
- USCIS, online through a USCIS online account or on paper by mail to the address on the official page
- Who fills it in
- You, the permanent resident; a parent or legal guardian may sign for a child under 14
- What you get
- A new Permanent Resident Card (green card), mailed to a U.S. address if USCIS approves
- Key answer
- Part 2: one reason for applying, from Section A for permanent residents or Section B for conditional residents
- Cost
- Depends on your reason; some reasons are free and filing online costs less than on paper: check the fee schedule (Form G-1055) linked from the official page. This guide follows the edition dated 01/20/25
What this form is
Form I-90 asks USCIS for a new Permanent Resident Card, the green card. You use it to renew a card that has expired or will expire within six months, and to replace a card that was lost, stolen, destroyed or damaged, that you never received, that has wrong information, or that is an old edition no longer valid. It does not give you permanent residence: you must already have it. Permanent residents aged 18 and over must carry their card at all times.
The form has 7 pages in 8 parts: Part 1, information about you, including your Class of Admission and Date of Admission from your card; Part 2, your status and one reason for applying; Part 3, where your green card case was processed, two yes-or-no questions and your physical description; Part 4, disability accommodations; Part 5, your statement, contact details and signature; Parts 6 and 7, for an interpreter or a preparer; Part 8, extra space. If you file on paper, send all pages from the same edition.
The most important answer is your reason in Part 2. Tick your status first (1.a, 1.b or 1.c), then exactly one reason: Section A (2.a to 2.j) if you are a lawful permanent resident or a commuter, Section B (3.a to 3.e) if you are a conditional resident. The reason decides the evidence you send and whether you pay a fee. If you renew, the receipt notice USCIS sends you, together with your expired card, proves your status for 36 months from the card’s expiration date.
Who has to fill it in
You file Form I-90 if you are a permanent resident and:
- Your green card has expired or will expire within the next six months.
- Your card was lost, stolen, destroyed or damaged, or USCIS issued it but you never received it.
- Your card has wrong information, or your name or other details legally changed after it was issued.
- You turned 14 and your card was issued before then; you start or stop living as a commuter from Canada or Mexico; your status was automatically converted to permanent residence; or you hold an old card such as Form I-151.
Do not use Form I-90 if:
- You are a conditional resident with a 2-year card that expires within 90 days: file Form I-751 (through marriage) or Form I-829 (through investment) to remove the conditions instead.
- You are applying for a green card for the first time: Form I-90 only renews or replaces a card you already have.
- You want to give up your permanent residence: that is Form I-407, not Form I-90.
Field-by-field instructions
Part 1: Information about you
| On the form | What it means | How to fill it in |
|---|---|---|
| Part 1, 1.Alien Registration Number (A-Number) | Your Alien Registration Number, which identifies your immigration records and begins with “A”. | Copy it from your green card or a letter from DHS or USCIS into the boxes after the printed “A-”. If you do not have one, write “N/A”. |
| Part 1, 2.USCIS Online Account Number (if any) | The USCIS Online Account Number (OAN), which you only have if you filed a form whose receipt number begins with IOE. | Find it in your online account profile, or at the top of the Account Access Notice if you filed by mail. It is not your A-Number. If you have none, write “N/A”. |
| Part 1, 3.a.–3.c.Your Full Name: Family Name (Last Name) / Given Name (First Name) / Middle Name | Your full legal name today. The form says your new card will be issued in this name. | Write your family name, given name and middle name. If your name changed and you want the new one on the card, write the new name here and send the legal proof of the change. |
| Part 1, 4.Has your name legally changed since the issuance of your Permanent Resident Card? Yes / No / N/A - I never received my previous card. | Whether your legal name changed after your current card was issued. | Tick “Yes” and fill in Items 5.a–5.c if it changed. Tick “No”, or “N/A” if you never received your previous card, and go to Item 6.a. |
| Part 1, 5.a.–5.c.Provide your name exactly as it is printed on your current Permanent Resident Card. | Your name exactly as printed on your current green card, before the change. | Fill these in only if you answered “Yes” to Item 4. Attach the legal proof, such as a registered marriage certificate, divorce decree, adoption decree or court order. |
| Part 1, 6.a.–6.i.Mailing Address: In Care Of Name / Street Number and Name / Apt. Ste. Flr. / City or Town / State / ZIP Code / Province / Postal Code / Country | The address where USCIS sends letters about your application and your new card. | USCIS mails a green card only to a valid U.S. address, not abroad. If your mail goes to someone else, write their name as “In Care Of Name”. Only a commuter who lives in Canada or Mexico may give a foreign address; the card then goes to the port of entry named in Item 2.h.1.a. |
| Part 1, 7.a.–7.h.Physical Address: Provide this information only if different than mailing address. | Where you actually live, if it is not your mailing address. | Fill in Items 7.a–7.h only if it differs from your mailing address. A commuter gives the home address abroad here. |
Part 1: Additional information
| On the form | What it means | How to fill it in |
|---|---|---|
| Part 1, 8.Sex: Male / Female | Male or female. | Choose the sex shown on your birth certificate issued at or closest to the time of birth, or in secondary evidence you gave USCIS. |
| Part 1, 9.Date of Birth (mm/dd/yyyy) | The day you were born. | Write month, day and year as mm/dd/yyyy, for example 03/07/1985. USCIS rejects a form without a date of birth. |
| Part 1, 10.–11.City/Town/Village of Birth / Country of Birth | The city, town or village and the country where you were born. | Write the city, town or village in Item 10 and the country in Item 11. |
| Part 1, 12.–13.Mother's Name: Given Name (First Name) / Father's Name: Given Name (First Name) | The first names of your mother and your father. | Write only their given names (first names); the form does not ask for family names. |
| Part 1, 14.Class of Admission | The code of the immigrant category under which you became a permanent or conditional resident, such as IR2. | Copy it from your green card, where it is printed under “Category”: usually one or two letters followed by a number. It is not your status today or the visa you first entered with. |
| Part 1, 15.Date of Admission (mm/dd/yyyy) | The date you became a permanent or conditional resident. | Copy the “Resident Since” date from your card as mm/dd/yyyy. If you adjusted status in the United States, it is the day USCIS approved it, not the day you first arrived. |
| Part 1, 16.U.S. Social Security Number (if any) | Your 9-digit U.S. Social Security number, if you have one. | Write it if you have one. It is optional on this form. |
Part 2: Application type and reason for application (select only one box)
| On the form | What it means | How to fill it in |
|---|---|---|
| Part 2, 1.a.–1.c.My status is (Select only one box): Lawful Permanent Resident / Permanent Resident - In Commuter Status / Conditional Permanent Resident | Your immigration status today, which decides which section of Part 2 you use. | Tick one box: 1.a lawful permanent resident or 1.b commuter, then go to Section A; 1.c conditional permanent resident (a 2-year card), then go to Section B. |
| Part 2, 2.a.My previous card has been lost, stolen, or destroyed. | Section A reason: your card was lost, stolen or destroyed. | Tick 2.a. Send a copy of your green card if you have one, or of a government-issued ID with your name, date of birth, photo and signature, such as a passport or driver’s license. |
| Part 2, 2.b.My previous card was issued but never received. | Section A reason: USCIS issued your card but it never reached you. | Tick 2.b only if the card was returned to USCIS as undeliverable; check your case status online. If it was mailed to the address you gave and not returned, use 2.a instead. Send the latest Form I-797 notice for the case that should have produced the card and a copy of a government-issued ID. |
| Part 2, 2.c.My existing card has been mutilated. | Section A reason: your card is damaged or partly destroyed. | Tick 2.c and send a copy of the card, or of a government-issued ID with your name, date of birth, photo and signature. |
| Part 2, 2.d.My existing card has incorrect data because of Department of Homeland Security (DHS) error. | Section A reason: your card has wrong information because of a mistake by DHS (USCIS). | Tick 2.d, send the original card with the error (a copy is not accepted) and proof of the correct data, such as a passport or birth certificate. If the mistake was not DHS’s, use 2.e instead. |
| Part 2, 2.e.My name or other biographic information has been legally changed since issuance of my existing card. | Section A reason: your name or other details legally changed after the card was issued, or the card has an error that DHS did not cause. | Tick 2.e and send the legal documents, registered with the proper civil authority, such as a marriage certificate, divorce decree or court order. |
| Part 2, 2.f.My existing card has already expired or will expire within six months. | Section A reason: renewal, because your card has expired or will expire within six months. | Tick 2.f and send a copy of the card. Do not file earlier: if your card will not expire within six months, USCIS may deny the application. |
| Part 2, 2.g.1.–2.g.2.I have reached my 14th birthday and am registering as required. My existing card will expire AFTER / BEFORE my 16th birthday. | Section A reason: you turned 14 in the last 30 days and must register, because your card was issued before your 14th birthday. | Tick 2.g.1 if the card expires after your 16th birthday, 2.g.2 if before. If you file before turning 14 or more than 30 days after, the form says to use 2.j; if your card has expired, use 2.f. Send a copy of the card. |
| Part 2, 2.h.1.–2.h.2.I am a permanent resident who is taking up commuter status. / My Port-of-Entry (POE) into the United States will be / I am a commuter who is taking up actual residence in the United States. | Section A reasons for commuters: permanent residents who work in the United States but live in Canada or Mexico. | Tick 2.h.1 if you start commuting, write the city and state of the port of entry you will use in 2.h.1.a, and send proof of U.S. work from the last six months. Tick 2.h.2 if you move to the United States, with proof of residence such as a lease or utility bills from the last six months. |
| Part 2, 2.i.I have been automatically converted to lawful permanent resident status. | Section A reason: your temporary resident status was automatically converted to permanent residence. | Tick 2.i and send proof of your temporary resident status, such as your Form I-797 for Form I-700, and a copy of a government-issued ID. |
| Part 2, 2.j.I have a prior edition of the Alien Registration Card, or I am applying to replace my current Permanent Resident Card for a reason that is not specified above. | Section A reason: you have an old edition of the card, such as Form I-151, or need a new card for a reason not listed. | Tick 2.j and send a copy of your Alien Registration Card or green card. Also use it if you register more than 30 days after your 14th birthday and your card has not expired. |
| Part 2, 3.a.–3.e.Section B. (To be used only by a conditional permanent resident.) | The reasons for conditional residents: card lost, stolen or destroyed (3.a), never received (3.b), damaged (3.c), wrong because of DHS error (3.d), or details legally changed (3.e). | Tick one and send the same evidence as for the matching reason in Section A. You cannot renew a 2-year card with Form I-90. If you think you were wrongly made conditional because you had been married 2 years or more, the instructions say to use reason 2.d with a copy of your marriage certificate. |
Part 3: Processing information
| On the form | What it means | How to fill it in |
|---|---|---|
| Part 3, 1.Location where you applied for an immigrant visa or adjustment of status | The U.S. embassy, consulate or USCIS office where you filed your immigrant visa or adjustment of status application. | Write the city of the embassy or consulate, or the USCIS office, for example “U.S. Consulate, Guangzhou”. |
| Part 3, 2.Location where your immigrant visa was issued or USCIS office where you were granted adjustment of status | Where your immigrant visa was issued, or the USCIS office that granted your permanent residence. | Often the same place as Item 1. If you adjusted status, write the USCIS office that granted your permanent residence. |
| Part 3, 3.a.–3.a.1.Destination in the United States at time of admission / Port-of-Entry where admitted to the United States: City or Town and State | For people who entered with an immigrant visa: where you were going in the United States and where you were admitted. | Fill these in only if you came with an immigrant visa: your U.S. destination and the city and state of the port of entry, naming the airport, bridge or tunnel if the city has several. If you adjusted status, skip to Item 4. |
| Part 3, 4.Have you ever been in exclusion, deportation, or removal proceedings or ordered removed from the United States? | Whether you have ever been in exclusion, deportation or removal proceedings, or ordered removed. | Answer truthfully. If you answer “Yes”, explain in detail in Part 8. |
| Part 3, 5.Since you were granted permanent residence, have you ever filed Form I-407, Abandonment by Alien of Status as Lawful Permanent Resident, or otherwise been determined to have abandoned your status? | Whether you have given up your permanent residence with Form I-407, or been found to have abandoned it, since you became a resident. | Answer truthfully. If you answer “Yes”, explain in detail in Part 8. |
Part 3: Biographic information
| On the form | What it means | How to fill it in |
|---|---|---|
| Part 3, 6.–7.Ethnicity (Select only one box) / Race (Select all applicable boxes) | Your ethnicity and race, as defined in the instructions. | Tick one box for ethnicity (Hispanic or Latino, or not) and every race that applies. |
| Part 3, 8.–9.Height: Feet / Inches; Weight: Pounds | Your height in feet and inches and your weight in pounds. | Do not use centimeters or kilograms: 5 feet 9 inches is “5” and “09”. If you do not know your weight, write “000”. |
| Part 3, 10.–11.Eye Color (Select only one box) / Hair Color (Select only one box) | The color of your eyes and of your hair. | Tick one box for each, the one that fits best. |
Parts 4 and 5: Accommodations, applicant’s statement, contact information and signature
| On the form | What it means | How to fill it in |
|---|---|---|
| Part 4, 1.–1.c.Are you requesting an accommodation because of your disabilities and/or impairments? | Whether you need help because of a disability or impairment, for example a sign-language interpreter at your appointment. | Answer “No”, or “Yes” and tick 1.a, 1.b or 1.c and describe what you need. Continue in Part 8 if you need more space. |
| Part 5, 1.a.–2.Applicant's Statement | Whether you read and understood the form in English yourself, or an interpreter read it to you, and whether someone prepared it for you. | Tick 1.a or 1.b; for 1.b, write the language. Tick 2 as well if a preparer filled in the form for you. |
| Part 5, 3.–5.Applicant's Daytime Telephone Number / Applicant's Mobile Telephone Number (if any) / Applicant's Email Address (if any) | How USCIS can reach you. | The daytime phone number is required; a mobile number and email address are optional. |
| Part 5, 6.a.–6.b.Applicant's Signature (sign in ink) / Date of Signature (mm/dd/yyyy) | Your signature, certifying under penalty of perjury that your answers are complete, true and correct. | Sign by hand in ink: a stamped or typed name is not accepted, and USCIS rejects an unsigned form. A parent or legal guardian may sign for a child under 14. Write the date as mm/dd/yyyy. |
Parts 6 to 8: Interpreter, preparer and additional information
| On the form | What it means | How to fill it in |
|---|---|---|
| Part 6Interpreter's Contact Information, Certification, and Signature | The details of anyone who read the form to you in a language you speak fluently. | The interpreter writes their name, organization, address and contact details, names the language, and signs. If you had no interpreter, leave Part 6 blank, but still send the page on paper. |
| Part 7Contact Information, Declaration, and Signature of the Person Preparing this Application, if Other Than the Applicant | The details of anyone other than you who filled in the form for you, paid or not. | The preparer completes and signs Part 7. If the same person interpreted and prepared, they complete Parts 6 and 7. An attorney may also need to send Form G-28. |
| Part 8Additional Information | Extra space for any answer that does not fit, and for the explanations Part 3 asks for. | Write your name and A-Number at the top, and the page, part and item number of each answer; sign and date each extra sheet. |
Key terms
| Term on the form | What it means |
|---|---|
| Permanent Resident Card | The green card (Form I-551): the card that proves you are a permanent resident of the United States. |
| Lawful Permanent Resident | A person allowed to live and work in the United States permanently. The status lasts until it is lost or given up; the card expires and must then be renewed. |
| Conditional Permanent Resident | A permanent resident whose status, through a recent marriage or an investment, lasts 2 years. The conditions are removed with Form I-751 or I-829, not Form I-90. |
| Permanent Resident - In Commuter Status | A permanent resident who lives in Canada or Mexico and crosses into the United States to work. |
| Alien Registration Number (A-Number) | A number DHS gives many noncitizens to identify their immigration records; it begins with “A” and is printed on your green card. |
| USCIS Online Account Number | A number you have only if you filed a form whose receipt number begins with IOE. It is not the A-Number. |
| Class of Admission | The code of the category under which you became a resident, printed under “Category” on your card, for example IR2. |
| Port-of-Entry (POE) | The place where you enter the United States, such as an airport, bridge or tunnel. |
| Department of Homeland Security (DHS) error | A mistake made by the Department of Homeland Security, which includes USCIS, when it produced your card. It decides between reasons 2.d and 2.e and whether you pay. |
| Alien Registration Card | The old name of the green card. Old editions, such as Form I-151, AR-3 or AR-103, are no longer valid and must be replaced. |
| Form I-407, Abandonment by Alien of Status as Lawful Permanent Resident | The form used to give up permanent residence voluntarily. Part 3, Item 5 asks whether you ever filed it. |
| Form I-797 Receipt Notice | The notice USCIS sends after accepting your form. For a renewal, it proves your status together with your expired card for 36 months from the card’s expiration date. |
| Biometric Services Appointment | An appointment where USCIS may take your fingerprints, photo and signature to verify your identity. If you do not attend, USCIS may deny the application. |
Common mistakes
- 1
Using Form I-90 for an expiring 2-year card
A conditional resident whose card expires within 90 days cannot use Form I-90. File Form I-751 (marriage) or Form I-829 (investment) to remove the conditions.
- 2
Renewing too early
Reason 2.f is for a card that has expired or will expire within six months. If yours expires later, USCIS may deny the application.
- 3
Choosing “never received” for a card that was delivered
Use 2.b only if the card came back to USCIS as undeliverable. If it was mailed to the address you gave, file as lost (2.a).
- 4
Blaming DHS for your own error
Reason 2.d is only for mistakes DHS made, and you must send the original card. If the details were wrong when you gave them, or changed later, use 2.e.
- 5
Writing the date you entered as the Date of Admission
Item 15 is the “Resident Since” date on your card. If you adjusted status, it is the approval date, not your arrival date.
- 6
Using the metric system
Write your height in feet and inches and your weight in pounds. For example, 5 feet 9 inches is “5” and “09”.
- 7
Leaving out the key fields
USCIS rejects a form without your family name, mailing address and date of birth, and any unsigned form. Sign Part 5 by hand.
- 8
Using the wrong edition or leaving out pages
On paper, USCIS may reject a form with missing pages or pages from different editions. Download it from the official page and send all 7 pages.
- 9
Giving a foreign mailing address
USCIS does not mail green cards abroad. If you plan to travel and your card is about to expire, USCIS recommends getting the new card before you leave.
- 10
Picking the wrong reason at 14
Reasons 2.g.1 and 2.g.2 apply only within 30 days after your 14th birthday. Later, the form says to use 2.j; if your card has expired, use 2.f.
Questions and answers
How early can I renew my green card?
Within six months before it expires, or at any time after it has expired. Choose reason 2.f in Part 2.
Can I file Form I-90 online?
Yes, USCIS lets you file through a USCIS online account, and you can also file on paper by mail. The mailing address is on the Form I-90 page.
How much does Form I-90 cost?
It depends on your reason, and fees change: check the fee schedule (Form G-1055) linked from the official page. Filing online costs less than on paper. There is no fee if you register at 14 and your card expires after your 16th birthday, if your card was returned to USCIS as undeliverable, or if the card has a DHS error. Some people may ask for a fee waiver with Form I-912.
Can I work and travel while my I-90 is pending?
If you renew, the receipt notice together with your expired card proves your status, work authorization and permission to travel for 36 months from the card’s expiration date. If you no longer have your card, USCIS may give you an ADIT stamp as temporary proof: ask the USCIS Contact Center.
I have a 2-year green card. Do I use Form I-90?
Only to replace it, for example if it was lost or has wrong information, and not within 90 days of its expiration. To keep your residence when it expires, file Form I-751 or Form I-829 to remove the conditions.
What are the Class of Admission and the Date of Admission?
Both are on the front of your green card: the code under “Category”, such as IR1 or IR2, and the date next to “Resident Since”. Copy them exactly.
My green card will expire while I am abroad. What do I do?
USCIS says that if your card will expire within six months and you will return within 1 year and before it expires, file Form I-90 as soon as you are back. USCIS does not mail the card abroad.
Do I need a biometrics appointment?
USCIS may ask you to give your fingerprints, photo and signature. If so, it mails you a notice with the date, time and place. If you miss it, USCIS may deny the application.
What if I move while my I-90 is pending?
Tell USCIS within 10 days of moving, through your USCIS online account or with Form AR-11. Otherwise your new card may go to your old address.
What can I do if USCIS denies my I-90?
You cannot appeal the denial, but you may file a motion to reopen or a motion to reconsider with the office that decided. The denial letter explains the reason.
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