How To Renew Your Green Card: Everything You Need to Know About the Green Card Renewal Process in 2022
You can renew your green card in four steps: 1. Fill out Form I-90 and prepare to submit it online or by mail. 2. Gather and make copies of any required supporting documents for your green card renewal application. 3. Pay the $540 green card renewal fee ($455 for the green card, $85 for biometrics). 4. Submit your application online or via mail to the proper address. Most people renew their green cards when their current card has expired or is set to expire in the coming six months. You may also apply for renewal if your card has been lost, damaged, or stolen or if your legal name or other information is no longer correct.
Written by Jonathan Petts.
Written September 17, 2020
A Step-By-Step Guide To Filing a Green Card Renewal Application
The green card (permanent resident) renewal application process has four steps.
Fill out Form I-90 and prepare to submit it online or by mail.
Gather and make copies of any required supporting documents for your green card renewal application.
Pay the $540 green card renewal fee ($455 for the green card, $85 for biometrics).
Submit your application online or via mail to the proper address.
Renewing your green card ensures your immigration status remains valid. It’s important to maintain a valid, unexpired green card to prove that you are legally allowed to live and work in the United States. It also allows you to re-enter the U.S. after traveling abroad. If you have an expired green card or if it will expire within the next six months, it’s time to renew it.
Step 1: Prepare Form I-90
The first step in the green card renewal process is to fill out Form I-90: Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card. You can complete this form online or on paper.
To complete the form online, you must first create a USCIS online account. Once you have created your account and are logged in, you will be able to access Form I-90.
If you plan to submit a paper form by mail, you must download the most recent version of Form I-90 from the USCIS website, print it out, and then fill it out by hand.
Step 2: Prepare the Required Supporting Documents
Once you have completed Form I-90 either online or as a hard copy, it is time to assemble the required supporting documents.
If you are replacing or renewing your green card because it expired or is expiring soon, you only have to include a copy of your most recent green card with your application. If you are filing Form I-90 online, you will be able to upload the supporting documents on the USCIS portal. If you are filing a paper copy of Form I-90, you should include a paper copy of the supporting document with Form I-90 when you send it to USCIS.
Required Supporting Documents for Special Renewal Cases
If you are replacing your green card for other reasons, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service may require some extra documents.
| Special Green Card Renewals | Required Additional Supporting Documents |
|---|---|
| If your previous green card has been lost, stolen, destroyed, or mutilated… | Provide a copy of a government-issued I.D. that has your name, date of birth, photograph, and signature |
| If you never received the green card that USCIS issued for you… | Provide a copy of a government-issued I.D. that contains your name, date of birth, photograph, and signature, plus either: -A copy of the latest Form I-797, Notice of Action associated with your green card application, or -A copy of the page in your passport showing the I-551 stamp you received if you were admitted as an immigrant |
| If your existing card has incorrect data because the Department of Homeland Security made an error… | Provide your original green card and proof of your correct biographical data |
| If your name or other biographical information has legally changed, or if your card has incorrect data and the error was not caused by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security… | Provide appropriate legal documents that reflect new or correct biographical data |
| If you are a permanent resident who is taking up commuter status… | Provide evidence of your employment that is dated within the last six months |
| If you are a commuter who is taking up actual residence in the United States… | Provide evidence of your U.S. residence. If your proof of residence (such as utility bills) is in your spouse’s or parent’s name, provide a copy of your original marriage or birth certificate |
| If you have been automatically converted to lawful permanent resident status… | Provide evidence of your temporary residence status and a copy of a government-issued I.D. that has your name, date of birth, photograph, and signature |
| If you have a prior edition of the Alien Registration Card, or are applying to replace your current Permanent Resident Card for a reason that is not specified above | Provide a copy of your Alien Registration Card or green card |
Step 3: Prepare To Pay the $540 Green Card Renewal Fee
After you organize your supporting documents, you can prepare to pay the green card renewal fee. It currently costs $540 for most applicants to renew or replace your green card. This includes an $85 biometrics fee, which some applicants don’t have to pay. You can use the USCIS Fee Calculator to figure out the fees you must pay for your renewal application.
How Do You Pay the Green Card Renewal Fee?
If you file your Form I-90 online, you may make your payment online using a credit or debit card.
If you file your Form I-90 by mail (paper), you may pay the fee with a money order, personal check, cashier’s check, or by credit card using Form G-1450: Authorization for Credit Card Transactions. If you pay by check, you must make your check payable to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
If you can’t afford the filing fee, you may be able to get a fee waiver from USCIS for Form I-90 if you can prove that you’re facing serious financial struggles. Take note though, if you apply for a fee waiver, you cannot file for the renewal online.
You must file a paper application by mail. You can learn more about the fee waiver application process on the USCIS website.
Step 4: File Your Green Card Renewal Application
Now that you have completed Form I-90, organized your supporting documents, and prepared your filing fees, it’s time to submit your green card renewal application to USCIS.
You should combine your forms, supporting documents, and fees into a packet. Whether you choose to file online or by mail, you should include a cover letter that explains what you are submitting in the packet. A cover letter will help USCIS process your forms more quickly.
If you choose to file your green card renewal application online, you can do so through your online USCIS account. You may be able to upload your supporting documents online, or USCIS may request that you send your supporting documents separately in the mail.
If you choose to file your green card renewal application by mail, you should mail your application packet to the relevant USCIS address below. The address you will use depends on which postal service you are using:
U.S. Postal Service:
P.O. Box 21262
Phoenix, AZ 85036
FedEx, UPS, or DHL:
USCIS
Attn: I-90 (Box 21262)
2108 E. Elliot Rd.
Tempe, AZ 85284-1806
Who Is Eligible To Renew a Green Card?
Before proceeding with the renewal process, you should first determine your eligibility to renew it. Generally, you can get a new green card if:
Your card is expired or expires within six months
Your card is lost, damaged, or has been stolen
Your card contains incorrect information, for instance, if your name is misspelled
You have legally changed your name or other biographic information since you received your card; or
You never received the card that U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) initially mailed to you.
USCIS provides an extensive list of or replace your green card on its website. That said, there are some instances when you should not replace your green card. If you have recently completed a citizenship application, such as naturalization, you do not need to renew your green card to remain in lawful permanent resident status.
How Many Times Can You Renew or Replace Your Green Card?
You can renew or replace your green card/permanent residency card as many times as you need to. You should generally aim to renew your card six months before it expires
You can also replace your green card if you lose it. For this reason, it’s a good idea to keep your card in a safe place to avoid the hassle of an unnecessary renewal application.
Also, if you misplace your card a lot and are regularly applying for a renewal, you might make USCIS suspicious. is common, and irregular green card renewal activity on your part may make USCIS suspect that you are committing green card fraud. This will make it harder for you to prove your case with USCIS and get a new green card in the future.
If you have to replace your green card several times, it is a good idea to submit a letter explaining exactly what happened to your green card each time so that USCIS doesn’t have as much reason to be suspicious.
When Should You Renew Your Green Card?
The timing of your green card renewal will be affected by whether you plan to renew it from inside or outside the United States.
When To Renew if You’re Inside the United States
If you’re currently in the United States, we recommend that you renew your green card six months before it expires. If your green card has already expired, you should renew it immediately.
According to the U.S. laws on permanent residence, green card holders must be ready to present their valid green cards on request. To be able to follow this rule, you should have your valid green card with you at all times.
When To Renew if You’re Outside the United States
If you are outside of the United States and your green card has expired, you must contact the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate, or U.S port of entry, to let them know that your card has expired before you begin the renewal process. The U.S. government officials will let you know of specific requirements for your card renewal.
If your green card expires within six months and you plan to be back in the United States before the expiration date, you should plan to file for renewal as soon as you return.
What Happens After You Submit Your Green Card Renewal Application?
Once U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service has received your green card renewal application, two important steps follow before you receive your green card.
You'll Get a Receipt Notice From USCIS
USCIS will notify you that they have received your green card renewal application. USCIS will send you a receipt notice called the Form I-797C: Notice of Action to the mailing address listed on your Form I-90. The receipt notice will contain a 13-character . You can use these three letters and 10 numbers to track the status of your renewal application.
You'll Get a Biometrics Notification From USCIS
USCIS will also send you a notice for a biometrics appointment about two weeks after they receive your green card renewal application. The biometrics appointment notice will inform you of a date, place, and time to have your fingerprints, signature, and photo taken.
If you’re applying to renew your green card from outside the United States, your biometrics appointment will be at the U.S. consulate or embassy closest to you.
If you’re renewing your green card while in the United States, your biometrics appointment will be at a USCIS Application Support Center (ASC) near you.
You can learn more about what to expect and how to prepare for your biometrics appointment on the .
How Can You Check the Status of Your Green Card Renewal Application?
You can of your green card renewal application online. You will need the receipt number from Form I-797C: Notice of Action that USCIS sent to you. You can find the receipt number on the top left corner of the Notice of Action. The receipt number will be a combination of three letters and 10 numbers. To check your application's status, you must type the receipt number into the USCIS status checker.
If you would like text and email updates about your application’s status, you can also complete , e-Notification of Application/Petition Acceptance. You can submit Form G-1145 to USCIS after you file Form I-90, but it is best to send Form G-1145 with your original application packet to avoid missing any application notices from USCIS.
How Long Does It Take To Renew Your Green Card?
It’s currently taking USCIS 20-21 months to process most green card renewal applications. You can check the latest processing times on the USCIS processing times page. Current green card renewal processing times are considerably higher than historical averages. The average processing times for green card renewals in the last five fiscal years was 6.1 months.
| FY 2018 | FY 2019 | FY 2020 | FY 2021 | FY 2022 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| I-90: Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card | 8.0 months | 7.8 months | 8.3 months | 5.2 months | 1.2 months |
What Should You Do if USCIS Denies Your Green Card Renewal Application?
If U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service denies your green card renewal application, they will send you an explanation for their denial. If you think USCIS should have approved your green card renewal application, you can follow this process:
Find a lawyer to help you. It is usually a good idea to get expert legal help once USCIS denies your application so that you can figure out how to avoid having your application denied a second time. You can find an experienced immigration lawyer near you at .
Submit a motion to USCIS to appeal their decision with your lawyer’s help. If the decision denying your renewal request can be reconsidered, USCIS will state this on the denial notice they sent you. You can read more about appealing a denial decision on the . USCIS will either grant your request within 45 days of receiving it or forward your request for reconsideration to the USCIS Administrative Appeals Office (AAO) for further processing. The AAO will usually make a decision within six months.