Replace or Renew Green Card is Suitable For:

• Permanent Residents who were issued a Green Card valid for ten years, and that card has either expired or will expire within the next six months
• Permanent Residents whose previous card was lost, stolen, mutilated, or destroyed
• Foreign nationals who have never received the previous Green Card that was issued by the USCIS
• Permanent Residents who were issued Green Cards before 14 years of age and have reached their 14th birthday
• Permanent Residents who have been commuters and are now taking up actual residence in the U.S.
• Permanent Residents residing in the U.S. and are now taking up commuter status
• Permanent Residents whose Green Cards contain incorrect data
• Permanent Residents whose name or other biographic information on the card has been legally changed since receiving the card last time
• Foreign nationals whose status has been automatically converted to permanent resident status (including special agricultural workers).

If you are outside the U.S. and have lost your alien registration card, contact the nearest American Consulate, USCIS Office or Port of Entry before attempting to file a Form I-90.

If your Form I-90 application is approved, you will be mailed a replacement Permanent Resident Card,Form I-551, with a ten-year expiration date from the date of issuance.

If your application for a replacement alien registration card is denied, you will receive a letter that will tell you why the application was denied. You will not be allowed to appeal a negative decision. However, you may submit a motion to reopen or a motion to reconsider with the same office that made the unfavorable decision. By filing such a motion, you may ask the office to reexamine or reconsider its decision. A motion to reopen must state the new facts that are to be provided in the reopened proceeding and must be accompanied by the appropriate documentary evidence. A motion to reconsider must establish that the decision to deny your application was based on an incorrect application of law or USCIS policy, and further establish that the decision was incorrect based on the evidence in the file at the time the decision was made.

Question: What happens if my green card expires and I have not received a new one in the mail? Am I out of status?

No. You are not out of status. However, you must appear before an immigration officer to obtain an I-551 stamp in your valid passport. To try to prevent this, you should apply to renew your residency/green card at least 6 months before it expires.

Note: This does not apply to those having conditional residency (or 2 year resident cards). If you have a conditional residency you must apply for a removal of conditions with the Immigration Service.

NOTE: Applications to renew or replace a Permanent Resident card can no longer be filed at USCIS local offices or Application Support Centers. New USCIS procedure (PDF).