How to

Green card renewal: Form I-90, the fee, when to file, and what proves your status while you wait

FEDERALFederal law, nationwide: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) handles every green card renewal and replacement under 8 C.F.R. § 264.5 and the fee rule in 8 C.F.R. § 106.2.Checked by the Justice legal team against official sources · Last reviewed Nov 1, 20263 free tools on this page

Short answer

Renew a 10-year green card by filing Form I-90 with USCIS when the card has expired or will expire within 6 months. The fee is $465 on paper or $415 online. The receipt notice, shown with your expired card, proves your status for 36 months past the expiration date. A 2-year conditional card is not renewed: file Form I-751.

Date calculator · 2 card types

Your green card dates: when to file, and how long the receipt covers you

The filing windows and extensions read from 8 C.F.R. §§ 264.5 and 216.4 and from USCIS · checked Nov 1, 2026

Which card do you have?

Expiration date on your card ("Card Expires")The date printed on the front of the card.

Pick your card and enter the expiration date printed on it.

Rehearse the officer’s questions Which form fits your card

Each rule comes from the official source linked in the result. It runs on your device: nothing you type is stored or sent. General information, not legal advice.

Key points

The form: Form I-90 renews or replaces a 10-year green card. A 2-year conditional card based on marriage needs Form I-751 instead, filed in the 90 days before it expires.
The fee: $465 on paper or $415 online (USCIS fee schedule, edition 10/26/26). Some filings are free, and a fee waiver on Form I-912 is possible on paper.
When: When the card has expired or will expire within 6 months. Filing earlier than that can get the application denied.
While you wait: The I-90 receipt notice with your expired card is evidence of your status for 36 months past the card’s expiration date; an I-751 receipt extends a conditional card for 48 months.

A green card does not renew itself: when a 10-year card is within 6 months of expiring, or has already expired, you file Form I-90, Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card, with USCIS. The same form replaces a card that was lost, stolen or damaged, or that shows the wrong name or data. A 2-year conditional card is different: you remove the conditions with Form I-751 (or Form I-829 for investors), not with Form I-90.

Below: which form fits your card, when to file, the fee and the free cases, how to file online or by mail, what proves your status while you wait, the I-751 window for conditional cards, and what happens after you file. Every rule is taken from USCIS and the regulations. Part of our Immigration guides.

This page is about the card itself. To become a citizen instead, see when you can apply for U.S. citizenship; to get a first green card, see the green card interview.

I-90 or I-751? Which form fits your card

Look at your card. A 10-year card belongs to a lawful permanent resident and is renewed or replaced with Form I-90. A card valid for 2 years belongs to a conditional permanent resident: when it nears its end, the conditions are removed with a petition, not a renewal. 8 C.F.R. § 264.5(b), (d) · USCIS: Form I-90

Your card	Form	When	Fee
10-year green card (lawful permanent resident)	Form I-90	Within 6 months before it expires, or any time after	$465 paper, $415 online
2-year card from marriage (conditional resident)	Form I-751	In the 90 days before it expires (a waiver request can be filed any time)	$750 paper, $700 online
2-year card from an investment (conditional resident)	Form I-829	In the 90 days before it expires	See the USCIS fee schedule
Any card lost, stolen, damaged, or with a wrong name or data	Form I-90	Any time (a conditional card only if it is not expiring within 90 days)	$465 paper, $415 online; $0 for a USCIS error

A conditional resident may not use Form I-90 to replace a card that is expired or will expire within 90 days. Form I-90 instructions (01/20/25) · 8 C.F.R. § 264.5(d)

Quick guide

Which form do you need?

1. How long is your card valid?

Answer one or two questions to see which part of this page applies to you.

Rehearse the officer’s questions

It points to the part of this page that fits, in the page's own words. Nothing you choose is saved or sent. Not legal advice.

When to file: in the 6 months before it expires, or any time after

A permanent resident must apply for a new card when the existing card will be expiring within six months, and also when it is lost, stolen, destroyed or mutilated, when your name or other biographic data changed, when you reach your 14th birthday (unless the card expires before your 16th), when it was issued but never received, or when it shows wrong data because of a USCIS error. 8 C.F.R. §§ 264.5(b)(1), 264.5(b)(2), 264.5(b)(4), 264.5(b)(7), 264.5(b)(8), 264.5(b)(9) · USCIS: Replace your green card

Too early. If you check “my card will expire within six months” and it will not, the application may be denied. Form I-90 instructions, Item 2.f
Already expired. You can still file Form I-90 for an expired card; use the same reason. Form I-90 instructions, Item 2.f
Turning 14. File within 30 days after your 14th birthday if your card will expire after your 16th birthday; if it will expire before your 16th birthday, the 14th-birthday filing is not free. Form I-90 instructions, Items 2.g.1 and 2.g.2 · USCIS fee schedule
Travelling abroad soon. USCIS will not mail a card to a foreign address and recommends getting the new card before you leave. If you are abroad when the card comes within 6 months of expiring, and you will be back within 1 year of leaving and before it expires, file as soon as you return. Form I-90 instructions · USCIS: Replace your green card

The I-90 fee: $465 on paper, $415 online

The fee for Form I-90 is $465 if you file on paper and $415 if you file online, the $50 online discount in the USCIS fee rule that took effect on April 1, 2024. The fee schedule lists no separate biometrics fee for Form I-90. Check the current edition before you pay: an incorrect fee gets the application rejected. 8 C.F.R. § 106.2(a)(1) · USCIS Form G-1055, edition 10/26/26 · USCIS: fee rule FAQ

Your situation	Fee
Renewing an expired or expiring card, or replacing a lost, stolen or damaged one	$465 paper · $415 online
Reached your 14th birthday; card expires before your 16th birthday	$465 paper · $415 online
Reached your 14th birthday; card expires after your 16th birthday	$0
USCIS issued the card but you never received it, and it was returned as undeliverable	$0
The card has wrong information because of a Department of Homeland Security error	$0
You cannot pay	Ask for a fee waiver on Form I-912 (Form I-90 is on the list of eligible forms); a waiver request goes on paper

USCIS keeps the fee if you withdraw the application: it issues no refunds. USCIS: Form I-90

How to file Form I-90, step by step

Choose online or paper. Online needs a USCIS online account, where you also pay, track the case and answer requests. A fee waiver request must be filed on paper.
Fill in the form. Use the current edition (01/20/25) on every page. USCIS rejects the form if your family name, mailing address or date of birth in Part 1 is missing, or if it is unsigned.
Attach a copy of your card. Include a copy of the expired or expiring card (front and back), or the evidence the instructions list for your reason.
Mail it, if on paper. U.S. Postal Service: USCIS, Attn: I-90, P.O. Box 21262, Phoenix, AZ 85036-1262. FedEx, UPS and DHL: USCIS, Attn: I-90 (Box 21262), 2108 E. Elliot Rd., Tempe, AZ 85284-1806.
Keep the receipt notice. USCIS mails a Form I-797 receipt notice. For a renewal, that notice is your temporary proof of status (see below).
Go to biometrics, if asked. USCIS may schedule fingerprints, a photo and a signature; the receipt notice is not the appointment notice. Missing the appointment can lead to a denial.
Wait for the card. Check the case status online 72 hours after you file, and keep your U.S. address up to date: USCIS mails cards only to a U.S. address.

How long it takes. USCIS does not promise a date. It publishes current processing times for Form I-90 on its website, and your online account shows a personalized estimate. USCIS: Form I-90 · USCIS: Replace your green card

Checklist

Ready to file Form I-90?

Tick what you have ready

Form I-90, edition 01/20/25, every page from the same edition, signed
A copy of the front and back of your green card (or the evidence your reason needs)
Part 1 filled in: family name, mailing address and date of birth
The $465 paper fee or $415 online fee, or Form I-912 for a waiver (paper only) 8 C.F.R. § 106.2
A U.S. mailing address where the new card can be sent
If your card is a 2-year card: confirmed that Form I-90 is the right form, not Form I-751 8 C.F.R. § 264.5(d)

Tick each item as you get it ready.

Rehearse the officer’s questions The fee

Every point comes from this page and its official sources. Your ticks are not saved or sent anywhere. Not legal advice.

While you wait: what proves your status

For a renewal, your Form I-90 receipt notice, shown together with your expired card, says it “provides evidence of your lawful permanent resident status for 36 months from the expiration date on your Permanent Resident Card. You remain authorized to work and travel.” USCIS: Replace your green card

36 months for a 10-year card. Carry the receipt notice with the expired card. If USCIS accepted your renewal earlier, it mails you a new receipt notice to use with the expired card.USCIS: Replace your green card
No card at all. If you no longer have the card, USCIS may issue an ADIT stamp (temporary I-551 evidence) after you file; ask through the USCIS Contact Center.USCIS: Replace your green card
48 months for a conditional card. A properly filed Form I-751 extends conditional resident status and work authorization for 48 months; after that, call the USCIS Contact Center at 800-375-5283.USCIS: Removing conditions based on marriage
For your employer. For questions about showing the notice and the expired card for Form I-9, USCIS lists 888-897-7781 (TTY 877-875-6028).USCIS: Replace your green card

Watch out. Every permanent resident 18 or older must carry the card (or the evidence that replaces it) at all times; not doing so is a misdemeanor under section 264 of the Immigration and Nationality Act. Applying for naturalization does not change this. INA § 264, as quoted by USCIS: Replace your green card · USCIS: Form I-90

The 2-year card: removing conditions with Form I-751

A conditional green card based on marriage expires 2 years after you got conditional residence. You and your spouse file Form I-751 together within the 90-day period immediately before it expires; filing before that period may be rejected. A child who got status on the same day as you, or within 90 days, can be included. 8 C.F.R. § 216.4(a)(1), (a)(2) · USCIS: Form I-751

Filing late. If the petition is not filed in the 90 days, conditional status ends automatically and USCIS starts removal proceedings. A late petition needs a written explanation; USCIS accepts it only for good cause.8 C.F.R. § 216.4(a)(6)
Divorced, widowed or abused. If you cannot file jointly, you may ask to waive the joint filing requirement before or after the 90 days, until a final removal order.USCIS: Removing conditions based on marriage
The fee. $750 on paper, $700 online; no fee for a waiver based on battery or extreme cruelty.8 C.F.R. § 106.2 · USCIS Form G-1055
While it is pending. The receipt notice extends your status and work authorization for 48 months.USCIS: Removing conditions based on marriage

After you file: status, denial and next steps

You can check your case status online; USCIS asks you to wait 72 hours after filing. For questions, the USCIS Contact Center is 800-375-5283 (TTY 800-767-1833). USCIS: Replace your green card

A denied Form I-90 cannot be appealed. You can file a motion to reopen (with new facts and evidence) or a motion to reconsider (showing USCIS applied the law or policy incorrectly) with the office that decided. USCIS: Replace your green card

Tip. Renew or apply for citizenship? USCIS suggests checking whether you can naturalize before you file Form I-90: after 5 years as a permanent resident, or 3 if married to a U.S. citizen. You still need a valid card while the N-400 is pending. See when you can apply for U.S. citizenship.

Watch out. Talk to an immigration lawyer or an accredited representative before you file if you were outside the United States for a long time, have an arrest or a conviction, or are in removal proceedings: see Find a lawyer or free legal aid.

Getting help

Find a lawyer or free legal aidLegal aid and state bar referral services, with first-consultation prices.When you can apply for citizenshipThe 5-year and 3-year rules and the earliest filing date.The green card interviewIf you are still on the way to permanent residence.USCIS: Form I-90The form, the instructions and online filing.

Common questions

How much does it cost to renew a green card?

The Form I-90 fee is $465 on paper or $415 online, with no separate biometrics fee listed. Some cases are free (a card never received, a USCIS error, turning 14 when the card expires after your 16th birthday), and you can ask for a fee waiver on Form I-912 on paper.

When can I renew my green card?

When it has expired or will expire within 6 months. Filing earlier than that can get the application denied.

Can I renew my green card online?

Yes. Create a USCIS online account and file Form I-90 there; the online fee is $415. A fee waiver request has to be filed on paper.

Where do I mail Form I-90?

By U.S. Postal Service: USCIS, Attn: I-90, P.O. Box 21262, Phoenix, AZ 85036-1262. By FedEx, UPS or DHL: USCIS, Attn: I-90 (Box 21262), 2108 E. Elliot Rd., Tempe, AZ 85284-1806.

How long does green card renewal take?

USCIS gives no fixed time; it publishes current processing times for Form I-90 on its website. While you wait, the receipt notice with your expired card proves your status for 36 months past the expiration date.

Can I travel with an expired green card?

The I-90 receipt notice says that, with your expired card, it is evidence of your status for 36 months and that you remain authorized to work and travel. USCIS also recommends getting the new card before you leave the country.

I have a 2-year green card. Do I use Form I-90?

No, not to renew it. File Form I-751 in the 90 days before it expires (Form I-829 for an investment card). Missing that window ends conditional status automatically unless USCIS accepts a late filing for good cause.

What can get a green card renewal denied?

Filing with the wrong form or reason (for example a conditional card within 90 days of expiring, or a card that is not yet within 6 months of expiring), a missing signature or fee, or not going to biometrics. Other problems, such as long absences or a criminal record, are reasons to speak with a lawyer before you file.

Official sources

This page explains the law in general terms. It is not legal advice about your situation. Justice is not a law firm and is not affiliated with any court or government agency.