Green card expired? How to renew it, and how to prove your status while you wait
Your green card has an expiration date, but your permanent resident status does not end on that date. You do need a valid card, though: to prove your status to employers, to travel and come back, and for many everyday checks. Here is how to renew it and how to show your status while USCIS works on the new card.
General information only, not legal advice. If you have been outside the U.S. for a long time, have a criminal record, or have a 2-year card, talk to an immigration attorney before you file.
First: which card do you have?
- 10-year card (most permanent residents): renew it with Form I-90.
- 2-year card (conditional residence through a recent marriage or an investment): do not use Form I-90 to renew it. You remove the conditions instead, with Form I-751 (marriage) or Form I-829 (investors), filed in the 90 days before the card expires. If you miss that window, your conditional status can end.
Renewing a 10-year card with Form I-90
- When: once your card has expired, or will expire within 6 months.
- How: online with a USCIS account, or on paper. Online filing usually costs less. See the current fee in our USCIS fee calculator.
- What to send: a copy of your current card. Our document checklist lists the extras for a lost card, a name change or a USCIS error.
- Next: USCIS usually schedules a biometrics appointment to take your fingerprints and photo.
Proving your status while you wait
When you file Form I-90 to renew an expired or expiring card, your receipt notice extends your card’s validity for 36 months from the expiration date on the card. Keep the receipt notice with your expired card: together they show your status to employers and when you travel back to the U.S.
For a 2-year card, a properly filed Form I-751 or I-829 receipt notice extends the card for 48 months.
If you need proof faster (for example for urgent travel), you can ask USCIS for an appointment to get a temporary stamp in your passport (often called an ADIT or I-551 stamp).
Or: become a citizen instead?
If you are eligible for naturalization, you may not need to renew. USCIS says that if you applied for citizenship (Form N-400) at least 6 months before your card expires, you may be able to get a stamp as proof instead of filing Form I-90. Check your eligibility with our N-400 eligibility calculator, and practice for the civics test with our free citizenship test practice (all 128 official questions).
Before you travel
An expired card on its own may not be enough to board a flight back. Carry your expired card with the I-90 receipt notice, check your airline’s rules, and leave plenty of time before you renew if a trip is coming up. Our green card re-entry calculator shows the 6-month and 1-year marks for long trips.
Need help organizing your documents?
One Path Finder can help you gather and organize documents where permitted by law. We are not a law firm and can’t tell you what applies to your case. Contact us to start a conversation. For legal advice, ask us for a referral to our partner law firm.