By FormGuard
The current edition of Form I-90, Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card, is dated 01/20/25 — and as of July 2026, USCIS is still accepting only that edition with no announced transition to a newer version.
This guide walks you through exactly how to confirm you have the right edition before you mail or submit anything, the top rejection triggers specific to Form I-90, what USCIS Policy Manual Vol. 11, Part B, Chapter 2 says about eligibility, and how to protect your status during the months-long wait for your new card.
The 5-Step Pre-Submission Checklist for Form I-90
Run through this list before you seal the envelope or click submit. Each item corresponds to a documented USCIS rejection trigger — not general advice.
- Confirm you have edition 01/20/25. The current edition date for Form I-90 is 01/20/25, found at the bottom of each page of the form and instructions, in mm/dd/yy format.
- Verify all pages carry the same edition date. If any of the form's pages are from a different form edition, USCIS may reject your form.
- Sign your application. USCIS will reject any unsigned form.
- Confirm you're filing the right form. Do not submit Form I-90 if you are a conditional resident seeking to remove conditions on your Green Card — conditional residents must submit Form I-751 (marriage-based) or Form I-829 (EB-5).
- File within the correct window. The general rule for renewals is to file within 6 months of your card's expiration date — your 10-year green card has expired or expires within 6 months. Filing too early can result in rejection.
Keep this list open as you prepare your package. The sections below explain why each item matters and what to do if your situation is more complicated.
How to Verify the Current Edition Date of Form I-90
The edition date — 01/20/25 — appears at the bottom of each page of the form and its instructions, in mm/dd/yy format. If you're looking at a PDF and don't see it printed there, you're looking at the wrong source. Third-party websites, document prep services, and cached PDFs have all circulated outdated editions in the past.
The only source you should use is uscis.gov/i-90. To ensure you're using the latest version of this application, visit www.uscis.gov. Do not download from any other website. Once you download, scroll to the bottom of page 1 — if you see "01/20/25," you have the right file. If you see any other date, delete the file and re-download.
If you complete and print this form to mail it, make sure that the form edition date and page numbers are visible at the bottom of all pages and that all pages are from the same form edition. This is especially relevant if your printer cuts off page margins — print a test page first and verify the footer is legible before printing all seven pages.
What USCIS Policy Manual Vol. 11, Part B, Ch. 2 Says About Eligibility
Under USCIS Policy Manual Volume 11, Part B, Chapter 2 (11 USCIS-PM B.2), lawful permanent residents (LPRs) are entitled to evidence of status in the United States and are eligible for replacement of their Permanent Resident Card when certain requirements are met. The Policy Manual is the binding guidance USCIS adjudicators use — knowing what it says helps you understand why your I-90 might get a Request for Evidence (RFE) or denial.
One of the most misunderstood eligibility rules involves conditional permanent residents (CPRs). Conditional permanent residents whose status is not expiring within 90 days may file a Form I-90 to replace a Permanent Resident Card for the reasons provided in the form instructions — but if they do receive a replacement card, its expiration date will be the same as the prior card. In general, a conditional permanent resident is not eligible to file a Form I-90 for any reason during the 90-day period before the second anniversary of obtaining permanent resident status.
Conditional permanent residents may use the I-90 application to apply for replacement of an existing Permanent Resident Card, but may not use this application to replace, for any reason, an existing Permanent Resident Card that is expired or will expire within 90 days. If you're a conditional resident within that 90-day window, you need Form I-751 or I-829 — not I-90. Filing the wrong form doesn't just cause rejection; it can leave you without evidence of status during a critical period.
Common Rejection Reasons — and How to Avoid Each One
Rejections return your entire package, restart the clock, and can create gaps in your proof of status if you're close to your card's expiration. The following rejection triggers are documented in USCIS filing guidance and form instructions.
| Rejection Reason | USCIS Source | How to Avoid It |
|---|---|---|
| Wrong or outdated edition date | USCIS I-90 page; form instructions | Download only from uscis.gov/i-90; confirm "01/20/25" at bottom of every page |
| Pages from mixed editions | USCIS I-90 page | Print all 7 pages in a single session from one downloaded file |
| Missing signature | USCIS I-90 page (explicit rejection trigger) | Sign Part 5 before mailing; not required for fully online submissions |
| Filed too early (more than 6 months before expiration) | USCIS filing instructions | Check your card's "Card Expires" date; file no earlier than 6 months out |
| Conditional resident filing I-90 within 90 days of 2-year anniversary | 11 USCIS-PM B.2; Form I-90 Instructions 01/20/25 | File I-751 (marriage) or I-829 (EB-5) instead |
| Wrong filing address (paper filers) | USCIS I-90 page | Mail to USCIS Attn: I-90, P.O. Box 21262, Phoenix, AZ 85036-1262 (USPS) or 2108 E. Elliot Rd., Tempe, AZ 85284-1806 (courier) |
| Fee waiver applicant filing online | USCIS I-90 page | Fee waiver applicants must file by mail; online filing not available for this category |
Most I-90 rejections trace back to a handful of issues: filing too early (USCIS rejects renewals filed more than 6 months before expiration) and filing the wrong form (conditional residents who file I-90 instead of I-751 get rejected).
Online vs. Paper: Which Filing Method Is Right for You?
You have two options for filing your Form I-90: online or by mail. Filing online requires creating a USCIS online account. Online filing offers real-time status updates and faster receipt processing, but it isn't available in every situation. Use the decision tree below.
If you file Form I-90 on paper, USCIS will scan the documents into their system for electronic processing. If you do not already have a USCIS online account, they will create one for you once they receive your paper application, and you will receive a USCIS Account Acceptance Notice with instructions on how to access your account.
You cannot file your Form I-90 online if you are applying for a fee waiver. This is one of the few hard bars on online filing, and it catches applicants by surprise. If you qualify for a fee waiver, print and mail the paper form.
Processing Times and Protecting Your Status While You Wait
As of July 2026, most Form I-90 applications take approximately 8 to 14 months to process. Actual wait times vary depending on your filing reason, USCIS workload, background checks, and whether additional review is required. Premium processing is not available for Form I-90 — there's no way to pay extra for faster service.
The good news is that a pending I-90 does not affect your underlying LPR status. If you are applying to renew your Green Card, your Form I-90 receipt notice can be used with your expired Green Card as evidence of your lawful permanent resident status, and it provides evidence of that status for 36 months from the expiration date on your Permanent Resident Card. Save that receipt notice — it's your primary proof of status until the new card arrives.
If you need physical proof of status sooner — for example, for a job that requires document verification before the receipt notice arrives — the ADIT stamp (Form I-551) is a temporary stamp in your passport from a USCIS field office. It's the standard evidence of LPR status and is valid for up to 1 year, renewable. To get one, call the USCIS Contact Center at 1-800-375-5283 to schedule an InfoPass appointment at your local field office.
Glossary: Terms That Confuse I-90 Filers
These distinctions matter because using the wrong term — or misunderstanding one — can lead to the wrong form, a bad reason-for-filing selection, or a missed deadline.
| Term | What It Means for I-90 Filers |
|---|---|
| Edition date | The date USCIS revised the form, printed at the bottom-left of every page. Current I-90 edition: 01/20/25. Using a prior edition can trigger rejection. |
| Rejection vs. Denial | A rejection means USCIS returned your package unprocessed — the clock never started, no receipt notice issued, no fee cashed. A denial means USCIS processed your case and found you ineligible — it goes on your record and may require an appeal or motion. |
| RFE (Request for Evidence) | USCIS accepted the form but needs more documentation. You get a deadline to respond. Ignoring an RFE leads to denial. |
| NOID (Notice of Intent to Deny) | A stronger signal than an RFE — USCIS is inclined to deny but gives you a chance to respond. Less common for I-90 than for benefit petitions, but possible if a misrepresentation or eligibility issue surfaces. |
| LPR vs. CPR | A lawful permanent resident (LPR) holds a 10-year green card. A conditional permanent resident (CPR) holds a 2-year card (codes CR1, CR2, CF1, CF2). CPRs within 90 days of their 2-year anniversary cannot file I-90. |
| Receipt notice (Form I-797C) | The document USCIS mails confirming they accepted your I-90. For renewal filers, it also serves as a 36-month extension of your green card's validity when presented alongside the expired card. |
| ADIT stamp | A temporary I-551 stamp added to your passport at a USCIS field office. Valid up to 1 year. Used when you need immediate physical proof of LPR status and can't wait for the receipt notice to arrive. |
About FormGuard: We help immigrants and sponsors check USCIS forms for filing errors before submission. We publish guides on USCIS forms, edition dates, RFEs, and processing times, updated as USCIS policy changes.
Check your USCIS form for filing errors
We help immigrants and sponsors check USCIS forms for filing errors before submission. We publish guides on USCIS forms, edition dates, RFEs, and processing times, updated as USCIS policy changes.
Get started →Frequently asked questions
What is the current edition date of Form I-90 in 2026?
The current edition date is 01/20/25, as listed on the official USCIS form page at uscis.gov/i-90. That date appears in mm/dd/yy format at the bottom of every page of the form and its instructions. As of July 2026, USCIS has not announced a transition to a newer edition for Form I-90, so 01/20/25 is the version you must use. Always download directly from uscis.gov — not from a third-party document site. If the footer on your printed copy shows any other date, re-download before filing.
How do I prove my permanent resident status while my I-90 is pending?
For renewal filers, the Form I-797C receipt notice — combined with your expired green card — extends your card's validity for 36 months from the expiration date printed on the card, per USCIS guidance. This combination works for Form I-9 employment verification and most other status-proof purposes. If you need immediate physical proof before the receipt notice arrives, contact the USCIS Contact Center at 1-800-375-5283 to request an ADIT stamp (Form I-551) at your local field office — it's a same-day stamp valid up to one year. Your underlying LPR status is not affected by the pending application.
Can a conditional permanent resident file Form I-90?
It depends on timing. Conditional permanent residents (CPRs — those with 2-year green cards, typically coded CR1, CR2, CF1, or CF2) may file I-90 to replace their card as long as their status is not expiring within 90 days, per USCIS Policy Manual Vol. 11, Part B, Chapter 2 (11 USCIS-PM B.2). Within that 90-day window, CPRs must file Form I-751 (marriage-based) or Form I-829 (EB-5 investors) to remove conditions — not I-90. If a CPR receives a replacement card, its expiration date remains the same as the original card (the 2-year anniversary of obtaining status), so the replacement does not reset the clock.
What happens if I mail Form I-90 with a missing signature or the wrong edition date?
USCIS will reject the package and return it to you unprocessed. Rejection is different from denial — your application was never formally filed, no receipt notice is issued, and no fee is cashed. The practical consequence is that the clock on your case never started, which matters if your card is expiring soon. You'll need to correct the error and refile, potentially with a new check or money order. To avoid this outcome, confirm the edition date on every page footer before printing, sign Part 5, and use the correct mailing address for paper submissions (USCIS Attn: I-90, P.O. Box 21262, Phoenix, AZ 85036-1262 via USPS).