Form I-90: For a green card that has expired or is about to
Green card expired? Here is what to do
If your green card expired, you are still a permanent resident, but you need a valid card to prove it. File Form I-90 for a new one. You answer plain questions. We fill in the form, give you the fee, and list what to send.
No account or card needed. Money-back guarantee.
- Expired or expiring
- Online or by mail
- Money-back guarantee
Last updated
- $99Preparation price
- Still a residentYour status does not expire with the card
- Receipt noticeCarry it with the expired card
- 100%Money-back guarantee
CHECK YOUR CARD
Does your expired card say "conditional" or have a 2-year validity? Do not use Form I-90. A 2-year conditional card is renewed by removing the conditions, not by replacing it. A marriage-based card goes to Form I-751. An investor card goes to Form I-829. If the deadline has passed, the petition is late and needs a written explanation, so consider an immigration attorney.
Where you are
How long has your green card been expired?
The form is the same. What you do first, and what to watch for, depends on your situation.
- 01
Expires within 6 months
You can file now. USCIS asks permanent residents to replace a card that expires within six months. Filing early means you are not caught without a valid card.
EXPIRINGStart your I-90 - 02
Expired recently
File Form I-90 now. You are still a permanent resident. Your receipt notice, carried with the expired card, is your proof while USCIS decides.
EXPIREDStart your I-90 - 03
Expired many years ago
An old expired card can still be renewed. Expect questions on the form about your time outside the United States, because USCIS may ask whether you meant to stay a resident.
LONG EXPIREDStart your I-90 - 04
Expired while you are abroad
Form I-90 is filed from the United States. With an expired 10-year card and less than 1 year abroad, CBP policy lets the airline board you without Form I-131A. Form I-131A is for a card that was lost, stolen or destroyed. Immiva does not prepare it. After a longer absence, talk to an attorney.
ABROAD - 05
Expired 2-year conditional card
Conditional residents remove the conditions instead. File Form I-751 for a marriage-based card. A late filing needs an explanation of why it is late.
CONDITIONALForm I-751 page
What you get
A green card renewal package built for your reason
Your answers decide the reason on the form, the fee, the mailing address, and the document list.
The right reason on Part 2
Part 2 lists a reason for each situation, and a wrong one can get the form denied. You answer a few questions and we check the box that fits.
The right USCIS fee
The fee is $465 on paper or $415 online for most reasons. It is $0 when USCIS got your card back undeliverable, DHS made the mistake, or a child turned 14 with a card good past the 16th birthday. We work out which applies.
File online or by mail
File Form I-90 online through your USCIS account, or mail it to a USCIS lockbox. Your filing instructions cover both and name the lockbox for your case.
A document list for your reason
A copy of your card or photo ID, a name change document, or the original card with a DHS error, depending on why you file.
How it works
Fix an expired green card in four steps
Your answers save as you go.
Tell us about your card
Whether it is a 10-year or 2-year card, when it expired, and how long you have been abroad. We stop you early if another form fits better.
Complete Form I-90
Plain-English questions. We fill in the expired or expiring reason and the details USCIS asks for.
Review your packet
Check the form, the fee, and the copy of your old card before you pay.
File it and carry your receipt
File online or by mail. Keep the receipt notice with your expired card. Read the date on your notice to see how long it covers you.
Pre-filing checks
See every check before you file
Every I-90 runs through 6 checks, listed below. You see the report before you pay.
What USCIS rejects
- Family name, date of birth, and mailing address are not left blank
Your reason
- Your filing reason fits your card type, including commuter reasons
Turning 14
- Age-14 registration is filed within 30 days after the 14th birthday
Your address
- Your card can be mailed to you, under the U.S. mailing address rules
Form integrity
- Required fields complete
- Field content validation
Compare your options
Three ways to renew your green card
Compare the form, the reason, the fee and address, and the price.
Swipe to compare all three
| Feature | Do it yourself | Immiva | Traditional immigration attorney |
|---|---|---|---|
| What you pay to prepare it | Free | $99 | Varies by firm |
| Form I-90 | YesThe blank USCIS form | YesFilled from your answers | YesPrepared for you |
| Reason on Part 2 | NoYou choose from the list | YesPicked from your answers | YesPicked for you |
| USCIS fee and address | NoYou work them out from the USCIS charts | YesSet for your reason | YesSet for you |
| Document list | NoThe 11-page instructions | YesBuilt for your reason | YesTailored to your filing |
| Preparation price | YesFree | Yes$99 after you see your forms | Varies by firm |
Your green card renewal or replacement
Form I-90 for your reason, your document list, and instructions to file online or by mail.
$99The USCIS filing fee is separate and paid to the government.
Covered by a money-back guarantee. Read the guarantee terms
Common questions
Expired green card questions, answered
Your status, work, travel, and the receipt notice.
File Form I-90 to get a new card. You can file after the card expires, and up to six months before it does. Keep the receipt notice USCIS sends and carry it with your expired card.
Yes. The card expires, your status does not. You still need proof of your status, for example at the airport and at a state office. The Form I-90 receipt notice with the expired card is the usual proof while you wait.
You choose which acceptable documents to show your employer. The I-90 receipt notice together with your expired card counts as proof of work authorization for 36 months, and your employer must accept it. A current employer does not re-check a green card holder when the card expires.
It is risky. An airline may refuse to board you, and you may be questioned when you return. USCIS says the receipt notice with the expired card is evidence of status. With an expired 10-year card and less than 1 year abroad, CBP policy lets the airline board you without Form I-131A. Form I-131A is for a card that was lost, stolen or destroyed. Immiva does not prepare Form I-131A. Form I-131A on USCIS
You can still file Form I-90 to replace it. If you spent long periods outside the United States, USCIS may ask whether you intended to stay a permanent resident. If that fits you, talk to an immigration attorney before you file.
USCIS currently prints that the notice, with your card, is evidence of status for 36 months from the card expiration date. Read the period on your own notice, since USCIS can change it. Form I-90 on USCIS
No. A 2-year conditional card is renewed by removing the conditions, with Form I-751 for a marriage-based card. A late filing needs a written explanation, and an attorney can help. See the I-751 page
A citizen does not need a green card. If you meet the requirements for naturalization, you can apply with Form N-400 rather than renew, or file both. Check your eligibility first. See the citizenship page
Immiva's preparation fee is $99, paid after you see your completed forms. The USCIS fee is separate.
Guides
Read this before you file
What a green card costs, and what conditional residents file instead.
Related applications
If an expired card is not the only question
The parent page, a lost card, and citizenship.