How to Change Your Name on Permanent Resident Card

A permanent resident can request a new green card with an updated name. The usual form is Form I-90, Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card. But the right steps depend on why the name needs to change.

There are three common situations:

1. Your legal name changed, such as after marriage, divorce, or a court-approved change.
2. USCIS printed your name incorrectly, even though your legal name did not change.
3. Your card is lost, damaged, or expiring, and the name itself does not need an update.

All three can involve Form I-90, but the proof and fee questions may differ. Start by identifying which situation describes you.

When you need to change the name on a permanent resident card

You may need a replacement card if your legal name changed after your current green card was issued. A green card name change after marriage is one common example. Divorce or another legal process can also change the name shown on your identity documents.

The name change must be legally recognized. Simply wanting to use a different name, or using a nickname in daily life, generally does not by itself explain why USCIS should issue a card with a new name. Your request should connect the new name to an official record.

You may also need a new card if:

• Your name is spelled incorrectly on the card.
• USCIS printed the wrong name, even though you did not legally change it.
• Your card was lost, stolen, damaged, or destroyed.
• Your card is expiring and you need a new one.

A quick decision path

Use this checklist before you start:

• Legal name changed? Prepare proof of that legal change and look at Form I-90.
• Name is misspelled or printed wrong? Use Form I-90 to request a corrected card. Explain the error clearly and include any proof that supports the correct spelling.
• Card is lost or damaged? Form I-90 may be used to replace the card. This is a replacement request, not a name-change request.
• Card is expiring? Form I-90 may be used to renew it. You still need to enter your current legal name accurately.

This distinction matters because a legal name change and a USCIS printing error are not the same claim. Neither is the same as simply replacing a missing card.

Use Form I-90 to request an updated green card

Form I-90 is the Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card. Despite its name, it is used for more than a lost-card replacement. A permanent resident may use it to:

• Renew an expiring Permanent Resident Card.
• Replace a card that was lost, damaged, or stolen.
• Correct certain information on the card.
• Request a card showing a legally changed name.

Choose the reason that best matches your situation. Read each question carefully. A request based on marriage, for example, should be supported by evidence of the legal name change. A request based on a printing mistake should explain that the card does not match the correct information.

Form I-90 updates the card. It does not itself create a legal name change. You should have the legal name-change document first, then use that evidence to support the replacement card request.

Before submitting the form, check that the new name is entered consistently. A small difference in spelling, order, or spacing can create confusion when USCIS reviews the request or prints the card.

Documents and proof to prepare for a legal name change

The key document is proof that the name changed legally. The exact document depends on why the change happened.

For example, your supporting evidence may include:

• A marriage certificate for a name change after marriage.
• A divorce decree if the decree legally restores or changes your name.
• A court order for another legally approved name change.

Use the document that establishes the change in your case. Make sure the copy is readable and that it shows the relevant names. If your document does not clearly connect your former name and new name, other identity records may help explain the change.

You should also have the information from your current green card nearby while completing Form I-90. Check every part of the application against your card and your legal name-change evidence.

A simple preparation list can help:

• Current or most recent Permanent Resident Card.
• Official proof of the legal name change.
• Any supporting identity document requested by the current Form I-90 instructions.
• A clear explanation if the name on the card is misspelled or otherwise incorrect.
• Confirmation of the current filing method, fee, and payment instructions.

Do not send random documents just to make the packet look complete. Use evidence that supports the exact reason for your request, and follow the current USCIS instructions for copies, translations, and other document details.

Ways to submit your I-90 request

You can submit Form I-90 through the filing method USCIS currently allows for your case. The available instructions may differ depending on whether you file electronically or send a paper application.

Submitting the request electronically

An online application lets you enter your information directly and keep a record of the submission. Carefully review the name fields before sending the form. The new name should match your legal name-change evidence.

Upload the documents in the format and manner required by the current USCIS system. Keep copies of:

• The completed application.
• Your proof of the legal name change.
• Any payment confirmation.
• The receipt or confirmation issued after submission.

An online filing does not remove the need to provide evidence. It only changes how you send the application.

Sending a paper application

If you file by mail, use the current Form I-90 instructions to confirm the correct filing address and payment method. Addresses and filing procedures can change, so do not rely on an old envelope or an address copied from an earlier application.

Make a complete copy of the package before mailing it. Keep the delivery record if you use a trackable mailing service. Your packet should include the form, the required supporting proof, and payment in the form accepted under the current instructions.

Whether you file online or by mail, check that the application tells one clear story: your current card shows one name, your legal records show another, and you are asking for a replacement card with the correct name.

Fees and possible biometrics for a name-change request

A Form I-90 name-change request may involve a filing fee. The amount can depend on the type of request and the rules in effect when you file. Because fees can change, confirm the current amount in the Form I-90 instructions before submitting payment.

Do not assume that a name change after marriage is free, and do not assume that every correction has the same fee. The reason selected on the form matters.

Biometrics may also apply. Biometrics usually means identity information collected by USCIS, such as fingerprints or a photograph. USCIS will provide instructions if a biometrics appointment or another identity step is required in your case.

Before filing, confirm:

• The current Form I-90 filing fee.
• Whether your reason for filing may qualify for different fee treatment.
• The accepted payment method.
• Whether USCIS may require biometrics.
• What happens if the application is rejected or needs more information.

These details require current USCIS confirmation. An older fee listed online or in a saved guide may no longer be correct.

Legal name change versus a spelling or printing correction

The biggest mistake people make is treating every name problem as the same kind of request.

A legal name change

A legal name change happens after an official event or legal process. Marriage, divorce, and a court order can all be reasons for a new legal name. In this situation, include proof of the legal change with Form I-90.

Your old name may appear on the current green card, while the new name appears on the marriage record, divorce decree, or court order. That difference is expected. The supporting document explains why the card should be issued in the new name.

A spelling or card error

A spelling correction is different. Your legal name has not changed, but the card contains a mistake. Perhaps a letter was left out, added, or placed incorrectly. You can request a corrected Permanent Resident Card through Form I-90.

Explain the error plainly. Include proof of the correct spelling if the current instructions call for it. The goal is to show that the card does not accurately reflect your information.

A lost, damaged, or expiring card

A lost or damaged card creates a replacement problem. An expiring card creates a renewal problem. Neither one automatically means your name needs to change.

If the card is lost but your legal name is still correct, provide the information requested for a replacement. If the card is expiring and you recently changed your name, make sure the application addresses both the renewal and the name update.

Use the reason that best fits the facts. Do not describe a lost card as a legal name change, or a legal name change as a simple printing error.

How long the updated green card may take

There is no single green card name change processing time that applies to every Form I-90 request. The time can depend on USCIS workload, the type of request, whether the application is complete, and whether USCIS asks for more evidence or biometrics.

The available information does not support promising a fixed number of weeks or months. Instead, check the current USCIS processing information for Form I-90 after you file. Use the receipt information from your case when checking for updates.

Delays are more likely to create trouble when an application is incomplete or the evidence does not support the reason selected. Before filing, review the name, address, card details, legal proof, fee, and signature or electronic certification.

If you need proof of permanent resident status while waiting, check the current USCIS instructions and notices for your case. Do not rely on an unofficial estimate or assume that filing alone gives you every document you may need.

Does the green card name need to match your passport?

The supplied guidance does not establish a universal rule that the name on a green card must match the name on a passport in every situation. Passport rules can also depend on the passport-issuing country and the reason you are using the document.

The practical goal is consistency across your current legal identity records. If you recently changed your name, check the passport rules that apply to you and the current USCIS instructions before deciding which document to update first.

If the name on your passport and green card differ, do not guess about the effect. Confirm the requirement with the agency handling the specific transaction. USCIS may need proof of the legal name change, while a passport authority may have its own process.

Before filing, review the current USCIS Form I-90 instructions and gather the document that proves your legal name change. That preparation will help you choose the right filing reason, provide the right evidence, and confirm the current fee and submission requirements.