Lost / Stolen / Damaged Green Card — How to Recover It Using Form I-90

The Green Card is your most important document in the USA — proof of Lawful Permanent Resident status. Without it, you face issues with work, travel, banking, and identification. Fortunately, recovery is a straightforward process through Form I-90.

Distinguishing — RENEWAL vs REPLACEMENT

RENEWAL — card has expired

• Your Green Card has a "Card Expires" date
• The date has passed or is approaching
• The card is physically with you
• You apply within 6 months before expiration

REPLACEMENT — card lost / stolen / damaged

• The card is physically NOT with you
• Or: it is with you, but damaged
• You can apply at any time

Both use Form I-90, but you select a different "reason" in the application. The procedure is practically identical.

NOTE: Conditional Green Card (2-year)

If you have a 2-year conditional Green Card (from marriage to a U.S. citizen sponsor, or through EB-5 investment) and the card is expiring or lost:

Check the type of card: "Card Expires" date + note if you have a conditional period. Control question: did you receive your GC due to marriage to a U.S. citizen, but the marriage lasted less than 2 years? Then it's CGC.

Step 1: Report Theft (if applicable)

Police report

• Go to your local police
• File a police report
• You will receive a report number — useful for USCIS, insurance, sometimes banks
• Free of charge

If you just LOST it (no theft): a police report is not required but recommended for USCIS as proof.

Identity theft monitoring

Your full name, A-Number, and date of birth are on the card. If stolen:

• Place a credit freeze with the 3 bureaus (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion) — see Identity Theft + Credit Freeze
• Enable a fraud alert with the 3 bureaus (90 days free)
• Monitor your credit report

Step 2: Form I-90 — Step by Step

Online (recommended)

1. Log in to my.uscis.gov (or create an account)
2. Select Form I-90
3. Question "Reason for filing": select the appropriate one:
   • "My existing card has been lost, stolen, or destroyed"
   • "My card has been mutilated" (damaged but readable)
   • "My card has incorrect data because of USCIS administrative error"
   • "My name or other biographic information has legally changed since issuance of my existing card"
4. Complete the remaining sections
5. Upload documents
6. Pay
7. Submit

Paper filing

Download Form I-90 PDF from uscis.gov/i-90, send it to the USCIS address (varies by state). A list of addresses is available on uscis.gov.

Required Documents

1. Form I-90 — completed
2. Copy of passport — photo page + all pages with visas/stamps
3. Copy of old Green Card (if you have it — sometimes you have a photocopy at home)
4. Proof of identity:
   • U.S. driver's license
   • State ID
   • Birth certificate
5. Police report if stolen
6. Proof of current address (utility bill, lease)
7. 2 passport photos (sometimes required)

Costs (2026)

• I-90 online: $415 ($380 fee + $35 biometric services — $125 discount vs paper)
• I-90 paper filing: $540 ($455 fee + $85 biometric)
• Fee waiver available for low-income individuals (Form I-912)

Waiting Time

• Replacement (lost): 10-18 months in 2026
• Renewal (expired): 8-14 months
• Name change: 12-18 months

The fastest offices: Chicago, Detroit, Cleveland (8-12 months). The slowest: San Francisco, Newark, San Diego (14-20 months). Check your status: USCIS Processing Times.

Proof of Status During Waiting Period — CRITICAL

Your GC is lost/expired, and the new one hasn't arrived? You need proof of LPR status for:

• Work (I-9 verification)
• Bank (opening a new account)
• DMV (renewal of license)
• Travel (returning to the USA)
• Insurance

Method 1: Receipt Notice (I-797)

You will receive this within 2-4 weeks after filing I-90. The Receipt Notice extends the validity of the old GC by 24 months (or until a decision is made, whichever comes first). You show it along with the old GC as proof of status.

If the card is completely lost → the receipt alone is sufficient (with proof of identity).

Method 2: ADIT Stamp in Passport

If I-90 takes longer than 24 months or you need stronger proof:

1. Schedule an appointment at your local USCIS field office through InfoPass / my.uscis.gov
2. Come with your passport + I-90 receipt + identity documents
3. You will receive an ADIT stamp in your passport (Alien Documentation, Identification and Telecommunication) valid for 1 year
4. This is a "temporary card" — accepted everywhere

Since 2022, the ADIT stamp is standard for individuals in replacement (especially after the expiry of receipt extension).

Traveling Abroad Without a Physical Green Card

With Receipt Notice (I-797)

• Receipt + old GC (if you have it): OK for most destinations
• Airlines accept it (especially U.S. carriers)
• Transit countries may require a Schengen visa if you have a Polish passport (but that's a different issue)

Without a Physical GC + Without Receipt

• DO NOT TRAVEL — you may get stuck returning to the USA
• Airlines will not allow boarding to the USA

With ADIT Stamp

• OK — this is official proof of status
• You show it to CBP upon return

Without a Physical GC, but Need to Fly URGENTLY

Go to the USCIS Field Office with your passport + I-90 receipt. They will issue an ADIT stamp within 1-3 days. Or:

Alternative method: if you are already abroad without a GC → go to the U.S. Polish consulate with proof of status → they will help you obtain a "boarding foil" (one-time document for return).

Special Situations

Card Damaged in the Wash / Fire / Flood

• This is a "mutilated card" — select the appropriate reason in I-90
• Attach a photo of the damaged card
• Standard I-90 process

Card in a Different Name (after Marriage / Divorce)

• Select "biographic information has legally changed"
• Attach marriage/divorce certificate
• You will receive a new card with the updated name

Incorrect Data on the Card

• Typos, incorrect date of birth
• Select "incorrect data because of USCIS administrative error"
• Attach proof (passport, birth certificate)
• Free if the error was USCIS's!

Your GC Never Arrived

You waited after approval, but the Green Card never arrived. Is it "lost"?

• First, contact the USCIS Contact Center: 1-800-375-5283
• Check if the card was sent (if so, USPS tracking)
• If it was lost in transit, USCIS may issue a replacement for free
• Remember about AR-11 — the card may have gone to the old address!

Common Mistakes

1. Incorrect reason selected in I-90 — may delay the case
2. I-90 instead of I-751 for conditional GC → loss of conditional status!
3. Missing police report for stolen card — USCIS wants to see proof
4. Missing AR-11 after moving — the new card returns as undeliverable
5. Traveling without ADIT stamp when the card is lost
6. Neglecting identity theft monitoring after theft
7. Not keeping a copy of the old GC before losing it

After Receiving the New Card

• Check all data — name, surname, date of birth, A-Number, category, expiration date
• Update SSN office (free of charge)
• Update DMV at the next driver's license renewal
• Update banks / employer
• Old card: securely destroy (shred) — do not throw it away whole

Official Links

• USCIS — Form I-90
• USCIS — Replace Your Green Card
• my.uscis.gov — Online filing
• USCIS — Form I-751 (Conditional GC)
• USCIS — AR-11 (Change of Address)

Related: [[renew-green-card-i90-krok-po-kroku]] · [[konto-uscis-online-jak-zalozyc-krok-po-kroku]] · [[identity-theft-i-freeze-credit-jak-sie-zabezpieczyc]]