Green card renewal: Form I-90 steps, fee and timing

When should you start green card renewal?

As of November 12, 2026, USCIS says a lawful permanent resident should replace a card that has expired or will expire within the next six months. Start by reading the expiration date on your own card and confirming whether it is a regular permanent resident card or a conditional card. See the official renewal rules.

For the I-90 expiration filing reason, the instructions warn that USCIS may deny an application if the card will not expire within six months. Preparing early is useful; submitting under the wrong reason is not. Keep your preparation date separate from the date when you become eligible to file for renewal. Read the I-90 instructions.

A lost card, a name change, and a card with incorrect information are different replacement reasons. They can involve different evidence and fee exceptions. Do not select the expiration reason simply because it is familiar. Match the reason to the actual problem with your card. Start on the official I-90 page.

Conditional residents: I-751 or I-829 comes first

Do not use I-90 to remove conditions on permanent residence. USCIS directs people with marriage-based conditional residence to Form I-751. People whose conditional residence came through qualifying investment use Form I-829. A card renewal and removal of conditions are different applications. USCIS explains which form to use.

The I-90 instructions say conditional residents cannot use I-90 to replace a card that has expired or will expire within 90 days. Conditional residents may use I-90 for certain other replacement situations, such as a lost card, subject to those restrictions. Check the exact instructions before paying. Read the conditional-resident restrictions.

If your conditional card is near expiration, follow the official conditions-removal instructions rather than the regular renewal steps below. If you are unsure which category applies, check with USCIS or a qualified immigration attorney. A payment made for the wrong application does not resolve that question.

What is the green card renewal fee?

The current G-1055 schedule lists the general I-90 fee as $415 online or $465 on paper. These figures were verified November 12, 2026, against edition 10/26/26. The I-90 webpage directs applicants to that schedule for the fee. Check the I-90 rows on pages 5–6.

The schedule also lists $0 categories, including certain DHS-error corrections and cards returned to USCIS as undeliverable. Those are specific exceptions. They do not mean that every missing card or every correction is free. Read the full row and match every condition before using an exception. See the complete fee exceptions.

USCIS incorporates biometrics costs into the main benefit fee in most cases. Do not add an old separate biometrics charge to this I-90 fee. For a broader comparison, see our USCIS fee schedule guide. Read the official explanation of the fee structure.

What should you prepare for Form I-90?

Read the evidence instructions for the filing reason you select. For an expired or expiring card, USCIS instructs you to submit a copy of that card. Other reasons have different evidence requirements; a general checklist cannot replace those instructions. Check the evidence for your filing reason.

• Confirm the name and biographic information you will enter.
• Check your mailing address carefully before submitting.
• Prepare the card copy or other evidence required for your category.
• If filing on paper, download the current accepted edition and keep all pages from that edition.
• Review the signature requirements before sending anything.

USCIS says it rejects unsigned I-90 forms and identifies missing family name, mailing address, and date of birth as rejection issues. A final review is therefore worth doing before payment. Keep your own copy of the application and evidence so you can understand any later request. See USCIS filing tips.

How do you renew a green card online?

USCIS offers both online and paper filing for I-90. Online filing requires a USCIS online account. You create and use that account directly with USCIS; SettleUSA does not provide account creation, collect documents, or submit applications. Use the File Online link on the official page.

1. Open the official I-90 page and read the current instructions.
2. Follow its link to the USCIS account service.
3. Choose the filing reason that matches your card situation.
4. Complete the application and provide the requested evidence.
5. Review the information and the fee before submitting.
6. Save the confirmation and watch for USCIS notices.

The account lets applicants pay, check case status, see updates, respond to evidence requests, and manage contact information. These features help you follow the case; they are not a promise of a particular completion date. Follow any instructions USCIS gives you after submission. See online-account features.

Paper filing, payment and fee waivers

For paper filing, use the mailing address shown on the current I-90 webpage. USCIS lists different delivery details for USPS and commercial couriers. Check the address immediately before mailing, especially if you prepared the package some time ago. Check Where to File.

Current payment guidance uses Form G-1450 for card payments or Form G-1650 for ACH transactions. Paper checks and money orders are generally no longer accepted unless an exemption applies. Form G-1651 covers the paper-payment exemption. Do not copy a payment method from an old checklist. Read current payment rules.

Some I-90 applicants can request a fee waiver. USCIS considers qualifying means-tested benefits, household income at or below 150% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines, or extreme financial hardship. You must meet the applicable conditions and provide supporting evidence. Check fee-waiver eligibility.

Submit I-912 or a qualifying written waiver request with the underlying application and evidence. Do not send the waiver request alone or assume you can add it after USCIS receives the application. Check the official instructions before choosing your filing route. Read how to file I-912.

What does the 36-month receipt extension cover?

For a properly filed renewal of an expiring or expired card, USCIS says the I-90 receipt notice, presented with the expired card, provides evidence of permanent resident status and work authorization for 36 months from the card’s expiration date. Read the current receipt-notice wording.

The clock starts from the expiration printed on the card, not the date you receive the notice. Keep the card and the notice together. Read the wording on your own receipt rather than assuming every I-90 replacement reason receives the same extension. Check USCIS guidance for renewal receipts.

If you no longer have the card and need temporary proof while waiting, USCIS says it may issue an ADIT stamp after you file I-90. Contact USCIS for the appropriate process. This guide cannot confirm what documentation will be suitable for an individual trip or transaction. See temporary evidence guidance.

Will you need a biometrics appointment?

USCIS may require biometrics and will mail an appointment notice with the time and location if required. The renewal receipt is not itself a biometrics appointment notice. Read each notice separately so an extension letter is not mistaken for an appointment instruction. See the USCIS explanation of notices.

The I-90 instructions explain that biometrics can include fingerprints, a photograph, and a signature for identity and background checks. Follow the appointment notice and current agency instructions about what to bring. Do not book a separate commercial fingerprinting service based only on this guide. Read the biometrics instructions.

Keep a simple record of the date a notice arrived, what action it requests, and the response deadline it gives. This helps distinguish an appointment, a request for evidence, and a case-status update. If a notice is unclear, use the contact options on the official I-90 page. Find USCIS help.

Green card processing time: how should you plan?

This guide does not give a fixed I-90 processing time. USCIS provides case-status information and personalized completion estimates through its online account features. Use your own case information for planning and treat an estimate as an estimate. See the official tracking options.

If you filed on paper, USCIS says it scans the documents for electronic processing and provides account-access instructions. Your case can still be processed even if you do not use the online account. USCIS continues to send notifications by mail. Read what happens after paper filing.

Check whether USCIS is waiting for action from you before assuming the case is simply delayed. Keep your mailing address current if you move; the I-90 page directs applicants to update it with USCIS. A calendar reminder to check official notices can help you avoid overlooking a request. See address-update guidance.

Before submitting: renewal, citizenship and final checks

I-90 is a card renewal or replacement application. N-400 is the application for naturalization for people who meet the eligibility requirements. USCIS links a naturalization eligibility tool from its I-90 page. Do not treat either application as an automatic substitute for the other. Check the USCIS eligibility link.

If comparing the costs, use our N-400 fee guide and the official fee schedule. The N-400 fee is a separate charge for a separate process. Applying for naturalization does not remove the requirement to hold valid card documentation or equivalent evidence. Read the official documentation reminder.

USCIS says I-90 application fees are not refunded if you withdraw or cancel the request. Resolve uncertainties about the form and fee before filing, especially if you are deciding between renewal and another immigration application. Read the withdrawal and refund warning.