Replacing or Renewing Your Permanent Resident Card - Green Card - Form I-90 and Conditional Resident Options

Sep 19, 2026

Upload by Sarah

Guidance explains when and how permanent residents can replace or renew a Green Card. It covers eligibility for Form I-90, expected processing timelines, and special instructions for conditional residents using Form I-751 before card expiration. The document highlights key risk factors, including biometric collection and how criminal convictions may affect outcomes and deportability. It also details steps to complete and sign the I-90 application and complete Part 1–3 fields accurately.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryLetters

FormatPDF

Pages7

Reading Time3 min

AccessFree to download

Replacing or Renewing Your Permanent Resident Card

Eligibility for Form I-90

Conditional Resident Guidance (Form I-751)

Risks and Policy Changes

Naturalization and Green Card Replacement

How to Apply (I-90)

The I-90 Form Overview

Replacing or Renewing Your Permanent Resident Card (“Green Card”) Can I file an application to replace or renew my green card? Yes. If you are a permanent resident you can replace a lost or stolen green card. You can also renew expired cards. Do this by filing Form I-90 with the Immigration Service (USCIS) . Your new card usually arrives in the mail in a few months. But it sometimes takes a year or more. See below for special information if you are a conditional resident. If you have any criminal convictions get advice from an immigration lawyer before you file Form I-90. Certain criminal convictions or arrests can cause you to lose your residency status, and you could be deported from the U.S. In what situations can I apply to replace or renew my green card? • your card was lost, stolen, or destroyed • you never got your original card • your card is mutilated, or unreadable • your name changed since you got the original card • the immigration service made a mistake on the card (like spelling your name wrong or listing the wrong birth date. ) • you are a permanent resident, and your green card is expiring or has expired. If you area conditional resident and your card is expiring after 2 years you must file Form I-751 . See next section. • you got your card before you were 14 years old, and you are turning 14 in 30 days or less. • your card does not have an expiration date I am a conditional resident. Should I apply to replace my green card when it expires? Yes, but DO NOT use Form I-90 . Conditional residents must apply for permanent residency when their card is about to expire. Right before those 2 years end, you must apply to “remove the conditions” on your residency. You need to file a “Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence”(Form I-751) . File it before your card expires. If the immigration service approves your application, you get a permanent resident card (green card) . If your card has already expired, contact an immigration lawyer. Conditional residents can apply to replace lost, stolen, or destroyed cards within their 2 years. Is there any risk in filing to replace or renew my green card? Yes. As part of the application process, the immigration service collects “biometric data” like your fingerprints and photograph. If you have a criminal record, it shows up when you want to replace or renew. If the immigration service thinks that your crimes or other problems make you deportable, you could be placed in removal (deportation) proceedings. You could lose your residency and be deported from the U.S. Immigration Service policies for renewing or replacing green cards can change quickly. If you have criminal convictions or arrests, you should get advice from an immigration lawyer before you file an application to replace or renew your card. I am planning to apply to naturalize, do I need to replace my green card? No. If you apply to become a U.S. citizen after 12/12/22 by filing file form N-400, Immigration extends your expired card for 2 years. You do not need to file Form I-90 if you filed Form N-400 for citizenship. You will get an N-400 filing receipt that describes this 3-year extension. You can use the receipt and expired card as proof of identity and ability to work. How do I apply to replace my green card? You have to complete and sign an application, Form I-90-Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card. You can only get the form online. Find it on the U.S. Citizenship & Immigration service (USCIS) website at [http://www.uscis.gov/i-90](http://www.uscis.gov/i-90. There)[. There](http://www.uscis.gov/i-90. There) is a lot of information on the USCIS I-90 page. It is a good idea to read it carefully, especially the instructions. Make sure you send all the documents that must be included with your application. If you plan to mail it in, you can print out a blank form or fill it out online and print it. Look under “Form Details” on the I-90 page. Links for

FAQs

Who can file to replace or renew a Green Card?

Permanent residents can file when the card is lost, stolen, destroyed, not received, mutilated or unreadable, when their name changed, or when USCIS made an error. You can also renew an expired card using Form I-90.

What should conditional residents do when their Green Card expires?

Conditional residents should not use Form I-90. They must file a Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence (Form I-751) before the card expires.

What are the risks when filing Form I-90?

USCIS collects biometric data, including fingerprints and a photograph. If the agency believes issues such as criminal convictions make you deportable, you could face removal proceedings and potentially lose residency.

Sep 19, 2026

Upload by Sarah