How to file Form I-751
You can file Form I-751 online through a USCIS account or by mail. Either way, the rules that trip people up are the same: file in the right window, sign it properly, include the right people, and send the right evidence.
Checked against USCIS guidance on September 21, 2026. The sources are listed at the end of this page.
Online or by mail
- Online: create a USCIS online account, file Form I-751 there, and USCIS sends a receipt notice. The online fee is $700.
- By mail: use the current edition (04/01/24). All pages must be from the same edition with the date visible, or USCIS may reject it. The paper fee is $750.
- Mailing address: USCIS publishes it on its Direct Filing Addresses for Form I-751 page, linked from the I-751 page. Check it before you mail.
- Optional: clip Form G-1145 to the front of a paper filing to get an email or text when USCIS accepts it.
Signatures
USCIS rejects an unsigned petition, and doesn’t accept a stamped or typed name in place of a signature. A joint petition needs both spouses’ signatures. A parent or legal guardian can sign for a petitioner under 14. A scanned or photocopied original with a handwritten signature counts.
Including your children
Children who became conditional residents on the same day as you or within 90 days go on your petition, in Part 5, with their A-Numbers. Children who got their status later, or whose conditional resident parent has died, each file their own I-751. A child filing separately with a stepparent can file any time, even before the 90-day window.
If you file late
If a joint petition isn’t properly filed in the 90 days before the card expires, USCIS says your conditional status ends automatically. It sends a notice and starts removal proceedings with a Notice to Appear.
You can still file late. Include a written explanation of why you missed the window, and USCIS decides whether there was good cause. If you are already past the date, speak to an immigration attorney quickly.
Other rules worth knowing
- You must have a U.S. address to file.
- If you move, tell USCIS within 10 days.
- Translations must be complete and certified by the translator.
- Filing from abroad on U.S. military or government orders? Mark the petition as such and send the extra photos, fingerprint cards and orders.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I mail Form I-751?
USCIS lists the address on its Direct Filing Addresses for Form I-751 page, linked from uscis.gov/i-751. Check it before you mail, and use the edition dated 04/01/24.
Can I file Form I-751 online?
Yes. Create a USCIS online account and file there. The online fee is $700, compared with $750 on paper.
Do both spouses sign Form I-751?
For a joint petition, yes. A petition filed with a waiver is signed by the conditional resident alone. USCIS rejects unsigned petitions and typed or stamped names.
Do I include my children on my I-751?
Yes, if they became conditional residents on the same day as you or within 90 days. Otherwise they each file their own Form I-751.
What if I missed my I-751 deadline?
Your conditional status ends automatically and USCIS starts removal proceedings, but you can still file late with a written explanation. USCIS decides whether there was good cause. Talk to an immigration attorney quickly.
Can I file Form I-751 early?
Not a joint petition: it must be filed in the 90 days before the card expires, and an early one may be rejected. Waiver petitions and separate petitions by children aren’t limited to that window.
More I-751 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 or judge whether a marriage qualifies. Fees and addresses change: check USCIS.gov before you file. If you missed your deadline or are filing a waiver, talk to an immigration attorney.
