Lost Immigration Documents in the United States: Find the Right Replacement Process
Replacing a lost immigration document depends on which document you held and where you are now. USCIS provides separate routes for Green Cards, work permits and travel documents. Start with the document type, rather than assuming one form replaces everything.
1. Identify the issuing agency
USCIS says replacement requirements and possible fees vary by document and circumstances. Its document directory covers Green Cards, employment authorization documents, arrival-departure records, citizenship certificates and travel documents. A passport, Social Security card or state ID follows the issuing agency’s own process, not this USCIS replacement route. https://www.uscis.gov/tools/uscis-tools-and-resources/immigration-documents-and-how-to-correct-update-or-replace-them
2. A lost Green Card: check Form I-90
USCIS says lawful permanent residents and conditional permanent residents whose Green Card was lost, stolen, damaged or destroyed may apply for a replacement using Form I-90, online or by mail. Replacing a lost card is different from removing conditions on residence. USCIS’s conditional-residence page specifies Form I-751 for marriage-based conditions and Form I-829 for entrepreneurs; a conditional Green Card cannot be renewed. https://www.uscis.gov/green-card/after-we-grant-your-green-card/replace-your-green-card https://www.uscis.gov/green-card/after-we-grant-your-green-card/conditional-permanent-residence https://www.uscis.gov/i-90
3. If you need temporary proof
If you no longer have your Green Card and need evidence of permanent resident status while waiting for its replacement, USCIS says it may issue an ADIT stamp after you file Form I-90. Use the USCIS Contact Center route linked on its replacement page for help obtaining the stamp. Do not confuse this with a renewal receipt presented together with an expired card you still possess. https://www.uscis.gov/green-card/after-we-grant-your-green-card/replace-your-green-card
4. If the document was lost abroad
USCIS lists Form I-131A carrier documentation for specified situations, including permanent residents returning from a trip of less than one year whose Green Card was lost, stolen or destroyed. Other document and travel-duration rules differ. Before paying, USCIS says to read the instructions and contact the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate’s Consular Section, or check its website, to verify it can process the form. Filing is in person there after online fee payment; the fee is non-refundable and cannot be waived. https://www.uscis.gov/i-131a
5. Check the current instructions before filing
Use the official page for your exact document to check the applicable form, evidence and fees. USCIS says replacement commonly requires a new application and may require a fee. Its directory is a starting point, not a statement that every lost document uses Form I-90. https://www.uscis.gov/tools/uscis-tools-and-resources/immigration-documents-and-how-to-correct-update-or-replace-them
Official sources
- https://www.uscis.gov/tools/uscis-tools-and-resources/immigration-documents-and-how-to-correct-update-or-replace-them
- https://www.uscis.gov/green-card/after-we-grant-your-green-card/replace-your-green-card
- https://www.uscis.gov/green-card/after-we-grant-your-green-card/conditional-permanent-residence
- https://www.uscis.gov/i-90
- https://www.uscis.gov/i-131a
Published on Mahjar Post on November 1, 2026. Sources: official U.S. government pages linked above.
