Do I need this form?
Permanent residents use it when the card is expired or will expire within 6 months; was lost, stolen, damaged or never received; has wrong information; or needs a legal name or biographic change. A child who turns 14 must also register. Conditional residents have a narrower list. They can use this form for a lost, damaged or wrong card, but not to renew a card that is expiring. If you have a 2-year card expiring, file Form I-751 instead; within the 90 days before the second anniversary, USCIS denies an I-90 and sends you to that petition. The same applies to investors using Form I-829. Replacing a card does not change your status and does not fix underlying problems. Look at your card now, read the Card Expires date, and pick your reason from the list before you start the form, since it controls the fee.
What does it cost, and who pays nothing?
The general fee is $465 on paper or $415 online. The fee is $0 in three situations: you turned 14 and your existing card will expire after your 16th birthday; your card was returned to USCIS as undeliverable; or DHS put the wrong information on your card. If you turned 14 and the card expires before your 16th birthday, you pay the general fee. Others may seek a fee waiver with Form I-912, generally not when filing online. On paper, pay with Form G-1450 (U.S.-issued card) or Form G-1650 (U.S. bank account); checks and money orders are accepted only with an exemption under Form G-1651. To confirm a returned card, check your case status online or call 800-375-5283. If the card was not returned, you file as a lost card and pay. Use the 01/20/25 edition. Choose the method before you pay, because USCIS keeps the fee if you withdraw.
What happens to my rights while I wait?
Your permanent residence does not end because a card expires; status ends through rescission, termination or abandonment. But proof matters, because a resident must carry a valid card, and residents aged 18 and over can be penalized for not having it. Keep your receipt with the expired card. USCIS says the renewal receipt is evidence of your status for 36 months from the card's expiration date. If you no longer have a card, USCIS may give you a temporary stamp after you file, called an ADIT stamp. If you have already filed Form N-400, your receipt for that form extends the card for 2 years, so you may not need this form unless the card is lost. Show an employer the receipt with the card. Report any address change to USCIS within 10 days of moving, or a replacement card can go to the wrong place.
What if my card was lost or expired abroad?
USCIS cannot mail a card to an address outside the United States, so you usually cannot solve this from abroad with this form. If your card was lost, stolen or destroyed during temporary travel of less than 1 year, file Form I-131A at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate for a travel document that lets you board. The fee is $575, paid online, and fee waivers are not available; bring proof of payment. If you hold an expired 10-year card and were abroad less than 1 year, you may be able to board without that form. Once back, file this form. If you will return within 1 year and before the card expires, USCIS says you can file on return. Keep your passport and proof of your travel dates with you. A long absence can raise abandonment of residence, so see a lawyer first.
How does the process work after filing?
Sign the form and include your family name, mailing address and date of birth, or USCIS will reject it. Use the reason code that fits you, and attach the documents the instructions list: a copy of the card or a government photo ID for a lost card, and proof of the change for a name or error issue. USCIS then sends a Form I-797C appointment for biometrics, which include a photo, signature and fingerprints. Go to the Application Support Center. Biometrics must be done within 90 days of the appointment date on the notice, and missing it without asking to reschedule can lead to abandonment. Keep the appointment notice. A child must register and be fingerprinted within 30 days of turning 14. If an arrest or a past problem appears in your record, speak to a lawyer before the appointment, since fingerprints will surface it.
What if USCIS denies it or raises a removal issue?
You cannot appeal a denial of this form. You may file a motion to reopen or reconsider on Form I-290B, generally within 30 days, or 33 days if the decision was mailed, or simply file a new I-90. A denial for abandoning residence is more serious: USCIS's February 2025 policy lists it among the cases where a Notice to Appear is issued. If that notice arrives, or if you think a case may exist, use our guide to finding your hearing right away, then read about the master calendar hearing. Your rights in that case include challenging the charge under the deportability rules. If your record has a conviction, have it reviewed before renewing. Ace Immigration can help through our family immigration practice; bring your card, passport and any court papers.