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- Who uses Form I-90
- Conditional residents use a different petition
- Current Form I-90 fees depend on filing method and reason
- Evidence follows the selected filing reason
- The receipt notice may extend card validity
- Work and travel use separate document rules
- Online and paper filing lead to the same adjudication
- Sources
Key Facts
- Federal level: Form I-90 renews or replaces a Permanent Resident Card; it does not renew lawful permanent resident status itself.
- Federal level: A ten-year card may generally be renewed when expired or within six months of expiration, while lost, stolen, damaged, incorrect, or never-received cards use distinct replacement reasons.
- Federal level, current as of August 9, 2026: The general filing fee is $415 online or $465 on paper, but defined categories are fee-exempt and qualifying paper filers may request a fee waiver.
- Federal level: A qualifying renewal receipt extends the expired card’s validity for 36 months from its expiration date when the notice and card are presented together.
- Federal level: Conditional residents do not use Form I-90 to remove conditions from two-year status; they use the applicable Form I-751 or Form I-829 process.
Form I-90, Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card, is the USCIS form for renewing or replacing the physical green card in defined circumstances. It is a document application, not a new application for permanent residency.
This form-specific focus differs from the broader green card renewal process. The filing reason selected on I-90 controls the fee, evidence, and whether the current card must be surrendered.
Who uses Form I-90
A lawful permanent resident with a ten-year card may file when the card has expired or will expire within six months. Form I-90 also covers a card that was lost, stolen, destroyed, mutilated, never received, issued with incorrect data, or no longer matches legally changed biographic information.
Other request types include replacing an old card edition without an expiration date, changing between resident and commuter classification, and documenting that a person automatically became a permanent resident at age 14 and must obtain an updated card.
The exact box matters. A card USCIS mailed but the resident never received is different from one delivered and later lost, and DHS error is different from an applicant-requested name correction.
Conditional residents use a different petition
A two-year conditional card is not renewed through Form I-90 merely because it is expiring. Marriage-based conditional residents ordinarily use Form I-751, and qualifying immigrant investors use Form I-829, to ask USCIS to remove conditions.
Form I-90 can still replace a conditional card that was lost, damaged, or issued incorrectly while conditional status remains valid. It cannot convert two-year status into an ordinary ten-year green card.
Current Form I-90 fees depend on filing method and reason
As of August 9, 2026, USCIS lists the general Form I-90 fee as $415 for online filing and $465 for paper filing. Fees can change, so the USCIS fee calculator should be checked on the filing date.
Defined requests have a $0 filing fee, including some DHS-error corrections and some cards never received through no fault of the applicant. The instructions and fee schedule—not the applicant’s preferred characterization—determine whether an exemption applies.
A qualifying person may seek a fee waiver for an eligible I-90 filing by submitting Form I-912 or a written request with evidence. Because fee-waiver requests generally cannot be made through the online filing path, that filing is submitted on paper.
Evidence follows the selected filing reason
A renewal ordinarily includes a copy of the front and back of the expiring card. A damaged or incorrect card may need to be returned, while a legal name change requires the appropriate civil or court document.
USCIS may schedule biometrics and may request originals or additional evidence. Missing an appointment, using mixed form editions, omitting required pages, or paying the wrong fee can delay or prevent acceptance.
The receipt notice may extend card validity
USCIS issues Form I-797 after accepting a filing. For a qualifying renewal, the notice extends the card’s validity for 36 months from the expiration date when presented together with the expired Form I-551.
The extension is tied to the receipt wording and filing reason; it should not be assumed for every replacement case. A resident needing proof who lacks the card or does not have a usable extension may request temporary ADIT evidence from USCIS.
Work and travel use separate document rules
Lawful permanent residents are authorized to work incident to status. For Form I-9, an unexpired card is a List A document, and an expired card with a qualifying extension notice can serve as temporary List A evidence for the stated extension period.
An expired card alone can create boarding or inspection difficulties for international travel even though ten-year-card expiration does not itself end LPR status. A traveler should confirm current carrier and CBP documentation before departure.
Online and paper filing lead to the same adjudication
Many I-90 applicants may file online, upload evidence, pay, and track the case through a USCIS account. Paper filing remains necessary or preferable for some circumstances, including a fee-waiver request.
The practical sequence is to identify the precise replacement reason, confirm that I-90 is the correct form, use the current edition and fee, submit reason-specific evidence, attend biometrics if scheduled, and preserve the receipt with the old card when an extension applies.
