Green Card Renewal With Form I-90: When to File, Fees and Next Steps

When should you renew your green card?

A standard green card is valid for 10 years; look for the "Card Expires" date. USCIS accepts an I-90 renewal when the card has already expired or will expire within the next six months.

Don't file earlier than that. The form instructions say that if you pick the "expires within six months" reason and your card won't actually expire in that window, your application may be denied.

Example: if your card expires on 1 March 2027, your window opens around 1 September 2026. Set a phone reminder a week before.

Renewal vs. replacement: which one applies?

The same form covers several situations besides expiration:

• Your card was lost, stolen or destroyed.
• You legally changed your name or other biographic details, for example after marriage.
• Your card has an error. If the error was the government's, there's no fee.
• Your card was issued but never reached you and was returned to USCIS as undeliverable.
• Your child turned 14. Permanent residents must register and be fingerprinted within 30 days after their 14th birthday.

What if you have a 2-year conditional card?

Some people who got residence through marriage or investment hold a 2-year "conditional" card. You do not renew it with an I-90.

Instead, you file to remove the conditions within the 90 days before the card expires: Form I-751 for marriage-based residence, or Form I-829 for investors. Our I-751 guide walks through it.

A conditional resident can use the I-90 only to replace a lost or damaged card, and not once their status is within 90 days of expiring.

How much does the I-90 cost as of September 2026?

From the USCIS fee schedule (Form G-1055, edition dated 9 September 2026):

Some low-income applicants may qualify for a fee waiver on Form I-912, which usually means filing on paper. Confirm the amount on the official fee schedule before you pay.

How to file Form I-90 online, step by step

1. Create a USCIS online account. It's free and lets you pay, track the case, upload evidence and update your address.
2. Pick the right reason. For a renewal, choose "My existing card has already expired or will expire within six months."
3. Enter your name exactly as it appears on the card. If your passport spells it differently (common with Arabic names), use the card version and explain if you're requesting a correction.
4. Upload a copy of your current card. If it's lost, upload a government ID showing your name, date of birth, photo and signature, such as a passport or driver's license.
5. Pay and save the receipt notice. Your Form I-797 receipt notice is the most important paper you have until the new card arrives.
6. Go to biometrics if scheduled. USCIS mails the appointment. Missing it can lead to a denial.
7. Wait for the card at a U.S. address. USCIS won't mail a green card to a foreign address.

Paper filing by mail is still available using the address on the form page, but it costs $50 more and you lose the online tracking features.

What documents do you need for each filing reason?

Per the official form instructions, what you attach depends on why you're filing:

Any document in Arabic, like a marriage contract issued in Egypt, Jordan or Iraq, needs a full English translation. The translator signs a certification that the translation is complete and accurate and that they're competent to translate from Arabic into English, with their name and signature. If the transliteration of your name on the translated document differs from your card, explain it in the additional information section to avoid a request for evidence.

Can you work and travel with an expired card?

Yes, once your I-90 is filed. The receipt notice together with your expired card is evidence of permanent resident status and work authorization, and lets you travel, for 36 months from the expiration date printed on the card.

Example: a card that expired on 1 January 2027 with a pending renewal is covered by the receipt notice until 1 January 2030.

Showing your employer you can work

When you start a job, your employer completes Form I-9. If your card has expired, show the expired card together with the I-90 receipt notice; USCIS says the pair is evidence of your status and work authorization during the 36 months. Keep the original notice somewhere safe and carry a copy.

If the 36 months are running out and no card has arrived, or the card was returned to USCIS as undeliverable, call the USCIS Contact Center at 800-375-5283 with your receipt number ready.

What if your card is lost or stolen?

Inside the U.S.: file an I-90 with the "lost, stolen or destroyed" reason and upload a copy of the card if you have one, or a government photo ID.

Outside the U.S.: don't file an I-90 from abroad. If you've been away less than a year, the route is Form I-131A, an application for a travel document to return. You pay the fee ($575 as of September 2026) online, then file in person at the consular section of a U.S. embassy or consulate with your passport and travel plans.

Once you're back, file an I-90 to get a replacement card.

Common mistakes

• Filing too early. Outside the six-month window, the application may be denied.
• Using the I-90 for a conditional card. It doesn't remove conditions, and you could miss the I-751 deadline.
• Traveling on an expired card without a receipt notice. You'd have nothing showing your status was extended. File before you go.
• An old address on your USCIS account. The card comes by mail. Update your address as soon as you move.
• Paying look-alike websites. Some sites mimic government pages and charge "service fees." The form is free on uscis.gov and you pay only through your official account.

What next after renewing?

If you've been a permanent resident for 5 years, or 3 years married to a citizen, naturalizing may make more sense long-term than renewing every 10 years. Compare the options in our N-400 citizenship guide.

If your name changed after marriage or divorce, replace the card with correct details; a name that differs across your green card, passport and driver's license causes delays in many everyday transactions. Keep every USCIS notice in one folder, sorted by date.

Frequently asked questions

Official sources we reviewed

• USCIS — Form I-90, Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card ↗
• USCIS — Replace Your Green Card ↗
• USCIS — Form I-90 Instructions (PDF) ↗
• USCIS — Form G-1055, Fee Schedule (edition 09/09/26) ↗
• USCIS — Form I-131A, Application for Carrier Documentation ↗