How to Apply for a Replacement Green Card in Four Steps

Are you wondering how to get a replacement Green Card? While it's doable in most cases (including theft, loss, change of legal status, and many others), the process can be challenging as it requires a relatively steep fee to be paid and a lot of patience to be had.

In this guide, we go over how to apply for a replacement Green Card in four steps and why it can be challenging for many people. Then, we show you how to dodge the (all too real) possibility of making a mistake in the paperwork and reducing the hassle by using a trusted immigration specialist to get the job done on your behalf.

Step 1 — Make Sure You're Eligible

It should be mentioned at the outset that it's not always possible to replace your Green Card. For example, if you're simply unhappy with your photo or you feel like a brand-new, shiny card, you probably won't be eligible to replace your Green Card (nor would it be worth the effort).

Replacing a Green Card is normally done out of necessity. In this way, there are many other reasons why you might need to replace your Green Card. For example, if you're a full permanent resident and meet any of the conditions we've listed below, you'll be legally required by USCIS to replace your Green Card:

• Your Green Card has expired.
• Your Green Card is going to expire in the next six months.
• Your Green Card is lost, damaged, or destroyed.
• Your legal status has changed.
• You have an outdated version of a Green Card.
• You have changed your name since issuance.
• Your Green Card contains any incorrect information.
• Your Green Card never arrived.
• You have turned 14 since issuance.

There is also a slightly narrower list of requirements for conditional permanent residents. We recommend checking USCIS's website to familiarize yourself with these requirements before moving on to the next step.

Step 2 — Get Your Paperwork In Order

Once you know you're eligible to replace your Green Card, gather all your documents together. We generally recommend having them printed out in front of you to make sure you have everything in order more quickly, but if you only have them digitally, then that's perfectly fine too.

In a nutshell, you're going to be required to fill out a unique form called a Form I-90. This will require you to have on hand a lot of information, including the following:

• Your A-Number (Alien Registration Number).
• Your full residential address.
• Biographical information (e.g. race, height, eye color, etc.).
• Processing information (e.g. details about immigration visa or adjustment of status).

Step 3 — Submit Your Form I-90

The next step will be to complete the Form I-90 and send it to USCIS, which can be done in one of two ways:

1. Online via your USCIS online account.
2. Via the post.

Completing a Form I-90 by yourself can be complicated if you have neither a legal background yourself nor a friend or family member with one to help you out. That's because the form is seven pages long and will require you to fill out a lot of obscure or difficult-to-understand information that may seem to be buried away in legal jargon.

Once you've completed the form, you'll then be required to pay for the application. Here, you'll generally have the option to do so via bank transfer, card (credit, debit card, and pre-paid cards are all accepted), or by writing a check.

Step 4 — Follow Your Application Status

Once you've filed your paperwork over the internet or by post, the ball is out of your court, and there'll be little left for you to do but wait.

Within 72 hours of submitting your form, you'll be able to start tracking the progress of your application, which can be done in two ways:

1. Online via USCIS's Case Status Online tool.
2. Over the phone by calling 800-375-5283.

In general, you can expect to wait anywhere between six months and one year to receive your new Green Card replacement.

Replacing a Green Card the Easy Way

While there's no getting around the hefty fee for filing a Form I-90, there is a way to ensure that you won't have to pay the fee a second time by completing your application incorrectly.

As we touched on above, completing a Form I-90 is tricky and filled with terms and requirements that most people find tough to understand. Therefore, it's easier than you might think to make a small mistake and derail your chances of a successful application.

By paying just $97, you can take advantage of CitizenPath's industry-leading preparation software to complete your Form I-90 quickly and correctly. In addition to completing your Form I-90 on your behalf, CitizenPath will also provide you with a clear set of filing instructions. These will give you directions on supporting documents, how to organize your application for success, and how you can submit it to USCIS. What's more, you'll also have access to a helpful team of legal professionals just a phone call away.

In our opinion, this route is ideal for most people without a legal background (or without a friend or family member with one), and we recommend paying the fee (which is very fair compared to what similar platforms charge) to give yourself peace of mind and security in being able to replace your Green Card successfully.