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When your green card is unavailable, an i-551 stamp may provide temporary evidence of permanent resident status. USCIS reviews your circumstances, including the documents already available to you, and decides whether temporary documentation is needed and what form of evidence, if any, it can issue.
That distinction matters if you need proof for work, travel, or another urgent purpose. Our green card attorneys can help you understand which records to gather before you contact USCIS.
When an I-551 stamp may provide temporary evidence
An I-551 stamp is also called an ADIT stamp. USCIS may issue temporary evidence of lawful permanent resident status in a passport or on a Form I-94 with a photograph when the agency determines that documentation is needed.
It is not a visa, and it does not approve or replace an application to adjust status through Form I-485. USCIS can review a request through its Contact Center and determine the appropriate next step.
When you may need temporary proof of status
Not everyone with a pending application needs an ADIT stamp. For example, an I-90 receipt notice presented with an expired green card can extend evidence of status for 36 months from the card’s printed expiration date.
That receipt can be enough while you are renewing your green card. If your card was lost, stolen, damaged, or otherwise unavailable, USCIS may assess whether temporary evidence is needed after you file Form I-90.
- Naturalization applicants: An N-400 receipt may extend an expired green card for 24 months. If the card is lost, USCIS says an I-90 filing is generally still needed.
- Urgent documentation needs: Work, travel, or another immediate need may explain why you request help, but USCIS decides whether to issue temporary evidence.
These examples do not create an automatic right to a stamp. The relevant question is whether your current documents already prove status or whether USCIS needs to issue temporary evidence for your situation.
How to request an I-551 stamp
Start with the USCIS Contact Center rather than assuming you must choose between mail delivery and an emergency appointment. USCIS can verify your identity and address, then decide whether a field office appointment or mailed documentation is appropriate.
- Contact USCIS: Explain why you need evidence of permanent resident status and provide the case information requested.
- Complete verification: USCIS may verify your identity and address before deciding how to handle the request.
- Follow the agency’s direction: USCIS may schedule an appointment if needed or have a field office issue and mail a Form I-94 with an ADIT stamp and photograph when appropriate.
If you have a pending filing, keep its receipt number available and check your USCIS case status before following up. That step can help you provide USCIS with current case information without turning this article into a case-status guide.
Documentation may still take time to process or arrive. If you are facing green card delays, temporary evidence may address a documentation gap in some cases, but it does not guarantee a decision on the underlying application.
Using temporary documentation for employment and travel
The document’s format and intended use affect the rules that apply. Review the evidence USCIS issued and its expiration date before relying on it for employment or travel.
Employment eligibility verification
For Form I-9, the document type matters. An unexpired foreign passport with a temporary I-551 stamp is a List A document. A Form I-94 with an ADIT stamp and photograph is an acceptable receipt for Form I-551, subject to the Form I-9 rules and the document’s expiration date.
The USCIS I-9 Central guidance on temporary I-551 stamps describes these categories. Because the supporting document matters, do not assume that every stamp or notation has the same I-9 effect.
International travel requirements
Temporary evidence can be relevant to international travel, but it does not remove other requirements. Check the airline’s rules and the destination country’s entry requirements before leaving the United States.
CBP advises lawful permanent residents not to travel with an expired green card if they cannot obtain a temporary I-551 stamp. Airlines may apply their own document requirements, so a stamp should not be presented as a guarantee of boarding or reentry.
What if you do not have a valid passport
If you do not have a valid passport, USCIS may issue a Form I-94 with a photograph and an ADIT stamp when temporary documentation is appropriate. The agency reviews the request and determines the documentation it can provide.
A Form I-94 version may not meet every travel need, especially where an airline or destination has separate requirements. Confirm those requirements before making travel plans, and keep copies of your USCIS notices and request information.
Getting help with a documentation gap
If you are unsure whether your receipt notice is enough, whether a lost card requires Form I-90, or how to prepare a request to USCIS, we can review the facts with you. Our team helps permanent residents identify the documents that support their current status and prepare for the next appropriate step.
Frequently asked questions about I-551 stamps
How long is a temporary ADIT stamp valid for?
Check the expiration date printed on the document USCIS issued. USCIS may decide what temporary evidence is appropriate for the request, so you should not assume that every stamp has the same validity period.
What happens if USCIS determines a stamp is not necessary?
USCIS may determine that an existing receipt notice and expired green card already provide the evidence you need. Follow the agency’s instructions and keep the documents that apply to your case together.
Can an I-551 stamp be used for a driver’s license?
Driver’s license requirements are set by the state agency handling your application. Check that agency’s current document list before visiting, because the documents it accepts and any additional requirements can vary by state.
What should I do if my green card is lost?
USCIS generally directs permanent residents with a lost green card to file Form I-90. If you also need evidence of status, explain your circumstances to USCIS and follow its directions about any temporary documentation.
What if I do not have a valid passport?
USCIS may consider other temporary documentation, including a Form I-94 with a photograph and ADIT stamp, when appropriate. The agency decides what it can issue after reviewing the request and available records.
What if my temporary documentation does not arrive?
Keep your request information and contact USCIS for instructions if you need to follow up. Do not assume a delivery date or a tracking method unless USCIS provides one for your request.
