Form I-90, step by step
Form I-90, Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card, is one form for every renewal and replacement. The part that matters most is the reason you choose in Part 2, because it decides the evidence you send and the fee you pay.
Checked against USCIS guidance on September 21, 2026. The sources are listed at the end of this page.
8 steps · Checklist
File Form I-90
The full list is at the end of the article.
Free · tick steps off on the web or in the app
Before you start
- Use the current edition (the instructions are dated 01/20/25). Download it from the USCIS I-90 page or file online.
- Have your A-Number ready. It is on your green card and starts with “A.”
- Decide online or paper. Online is $415 and shows updates in your account. Paper is $465, and is required if you are asking for a fee waiver.
The parts of the form
| Part | What it asks |
|---|---|
| 1. Information About You | A-Number, name, mailing address, and other identity details |
| 2. Application Type | Your status (permanent or conditional) and the one reason you are filing |
| 3. Processing Information | Where you got your immigrant visa or adjusted status |
| 4. Biographic Information | Height, weight, eye and hair color |
| 5. Applicant’s Statement and Signature | Your signature. A typed or stamped name isn’t accepted |
| 6–7. Interpreter and Preparer | Only if someone helped you |
| 8. Additional Information | Extra space for any answer |
Pick the right reason, send the right evidence
| Reason | Evidence from the I-90 instructions |
|---|---|
| Card expired or expiring within six months | A copy of the expired or expiring card |
| Lost, stolen or destroyed | A copy of the card if you have one, or a government photo ID (passport, driver’s license, military ID) |
| Mutilated | A copy of the card or a government photo ID |
| Incorrect data because of a DHS error | The original card (a copy isn’t accepted) and proof of the correct information |
| Legal name change | A copy of the card and the registered marriage certificate, divorce decree or court order |
| Never received | The latest I-797 notice for the case that should have produced the card |
Choose one reason. The instructions warn that choosing “expiring” when the card won’t expire within six months can get the application denied.
Where to send a paper I-90
USCIS lists these addresses. Check the I-90 page before mailing in case they change:
- U.S. Postal Service: USCIS, Attn: I-90, P.O. Box 21262, Phoenix, AZ 85036-1262
- FedEx, UPS or DHL: USCIS, Attn: I-90 (Box 21262), 2108 E. Elliot Rd., Tempe, AZ 85284-1806
Mistakes that cost time
- Choosing the “expiring” reason more than six months early
- Filing an I-90 for an expiring 2-year conditional card (that needs Form I-751 or I-829)
- Sending a copy instead of the original card when the error was USCIS’s
- Leaving the signature blank or typed on a paper form
- Wrong or outdated fee, or trying to file online with a fee waiver request
- An old mailing address, so the receipt, biometrics notice or card goes astray
If USCIS denies the application, there is no appeal, but you can file a motion to reopen (new facts and evidence) or reconsider (USCIS applied the law wrongly) with the office that decided it.
8 steps · Checklist
File Form I-90
Use the current edition or file online
Have your A-Number ready
Pick one filing reason in Part 2
Gather the evidence for that reason
e.g. a copy of the expiring card.
Sign the form yourself
A typed or stamped name isn’t accepted.
Pay the right fee
$415 online, $465 on paper.
and 2 more — saving takes all of them.
Free, and yours to edit — tick items off on the web or in the MyCheck app.
Frequently asked questions
What is Form I-90?
Form I-90, Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card, is the USCIS form for renewing an expiring 10-year green card or replacing one that is lost, stolen, damaged, incorrect or never received.
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 courier: USCIS, Attn: I-90 (Box 21262), 2108 E. Elliot Rd., Tempe, AZ 85284-1806. Check USCIS’s I-90 page before mailing.
Do I need photos for Form I-90?
The Form I-90 instructions don’t ask you to send photos. If USCIS needs your photo and fingerprints, it schedules a biometrics appointment and takes them there.
Can I file Form I-90 online?
Yes, through a USCIS online account, unless you are requesting a fee waiver, which has to be filed on paper.
What documents do I need to renew my green card?
For a renewal, a copy of your expired or expiring green card. Other reasons need different evidence: a government photo ID for a lost card, the original card for a USCIS error, and name-change documents for a new name.
Can I appeal if my I-90 is denied?
No appeal is available, but you can file a motion to reopen or a motion to reconsider with the office that made the decision.
More Green card renewal guides
Sources
General information from USCIS guidance, not legal advice. MyCheck is not affiliated with USCIS or any government agency, and doesn’t file forms for you. Fees and addresses change: check USCIS.gov before you file. If your status is at risk, talk to an immigration attorney.
