If you are looking for information about Form I-551, then congratulations! It means you are about to obtain your U.S. green card. Form I-551 is the official document certifying one’s permanent residence status issued by the USCIS.
Typically, Form I-551 is a card with a green background indicating the personal information of a permanent resident. However, a temporary I-551 may be a stamp on a foreign passport, a printed notation on a machine-readable immigrant visa (MRIV), or a stamp on a Form I-94 if no passport is available.
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What is form I-551 permanent resident card?
Form I-551 is the official document certifying one’s permanent residence status issued by USCIS. Typically, it is a green card indicating the personal information of a permanent resident.
Is I-551 the same as a green card?
A green card or permanent residence card is the predominant form of I-551 with ordinarily 10-year validity. However, in case of emergency, USCIS may also issue temporary I-551s that last only one year, including a stamp on a foreign passport, a printed notation on a machine-readable immigrant visa (MRIV), or a stamp on a Form I-94 if no passport is available.
Who issues permanent resident card I-551?
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issues Form I-551. It will send the green card by mail to the address specified by the permanent resident.
Where is the I-551 number located on the green card?
The I-551 number, also called receipt number, is located in the last 13 characters (followed by “<<”) of the first line on the back of the green card. It indicates the following information:
| Service Center | Fiscal Year | Computer Workday | Case Number |
| VSC/ESC/EAC – Vermont SCCSC/WSC/WAC – California SCNSC/LIN – Nebraska SCTSC/SSC/SRC – Texas SCPSC/YSC – Potomac SCNBC/MSC – National Benefits CenterIOE – Electronic Immigration System | (2 digits) | (3 digits) | (5 digits) |
What is the alien number on card I-551?
The Alien Registration Number (A-Number) between 7 and 9 digits is shown in the column “USCIS#” on the front of the green card.
What is an I-551 stamp?
The U.S. permanent residents must wait 6 months to a year before receiving their initial or renewed green card. During this period, the USCIS issues an I-551 stamp (or ADIT stamp) as temporary evidence of their permanent resident status. An I-551 stamp lasts only one year and is located on a foreign passport or a Form I-94 if no passport is available.
How long does it take to get an I-551 stamp?
If you are already a U.S. permanent resident and need to have a new green card, you should:
- File and pay for Form I-90, either online or by mail. You can omit this step if you have never obtained a green card
- Obtain Form I-797C with the receipt number of your I-90 about 2 to 4 weeks later
- Contact the USCIS Contact Center and request an I-551 stamp
- An immigration services officer will decide whether you need to appear in person at a USCIS field office. If not, the office will mail you a Form I-94 with an I-551 stamp
Normally, it takes less than 2 months to get an I-551 stamp.
How much does I-551 cost?
You can obtain your I-551 (i.e., green card) by filing either:
- Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status
- Form I-90, Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card
The following table lists the filing fee of Form I-485 as of March 2023:
| Applicant’s Age | Form Fee | Biometric Services Fee | Total |
| Under 14 and filing I-485 together with at least 1 parent | $750 | Free | $750 |
| Under 14 and not filing I-485 together with at least 1 parent | $1,140 | Free | $1,140 |
| 14–78 | $1,140 | $85 | $1,125 |
| 79 or older | $1,140 | Free | $1,140 |
Admitted refugees in the U.S. do not need to pay for Form I-485.
The following table lists the filing fee of Form I-90 as of March 2023:
| Reason for Application | Form Fee | Biometric Services Fee | Total |
| (A) My card has been lost, stolen, or destroyed. | $455 | $85 | $540 |
| (C) My card has been mutilated. | $455 | $85 | $540 |
| (E) My name or other information has been legally changed. | $455 | $85 | $540 |
| (F) My card will expire within six months or has already expired. | $455 | $85 | $540 |
| (G2) I have reached my 14th birthday and my existing card will expire before my 16th birthday. | $455 | $85 | $540 |
| (H1) I am a permanent resident who is taking up commuter status. | $455 | $85 | $540 |
| (H2) I am a commuter who is taking up residence in the U.S. | $455 | $85 | $540 |
| (I) I have been automatically converted to permanent residence status. | $455 | $85 | $540 |
| (J) I have a prior edition of the card, or I am applying to replace my card for a reason not specified above. | $455 | $85 | $540 |
| (B) My previous card was issued but never received.(D) My existing card has incorrect data because of a DHS error. | Free | Free | Free |
| (G1) I have reached my 14th birthday, and my existing card will expire after my 16th birthday. | Free | $85 | $85 |
You can refer to USCIS’s Fee Calculator for more information.
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Form i-551 permanent resident card: key takeaways
Form I-551 is the official document certifying one’s permanent residence status issued by USCIS. It normally refers to a U.S. green card. After filing I-485 or I-90, the USCIS will send the card by mail to the address specified by the permanent resident.
However, in case of emergency, USCIS may also issue temporary I-551s that last only one year, including a stamp on a foreign passport, a printed notation on a machine-readable immigrant visa (MRIV), or a stamp on a Form I-94 if no passport is available.