Your green card finally arrives, and your name is misspelled. Or you got married and now carry a different last name. Either way, the card no longer matches your documents, and that causes problems at the DMV, with HR, and at the airport.
As of November 2, 2026, here is how to fix it and what it costs.
- You must replace a green card that contains incorrect information or after a legal name change.
- Cards with incorrect data caused by a DHS error are replaced with no fee.
- For a DHS error, you must send the original card; a copy isn't accepted.
- A legal name change uses the general I-90 fee: $415 online or $465 on paper.
- Name change documents must be registered with the proper civil authority.
- If the error was yours, such as on your application, it isn't a DHS error.
Do you have to fix it?
Yes. USCIS says a permanent resident "must replace your Green Card if" the card "contains incorrect information" or "you have legally changed your name or other biographic information on the card since you last received your card" (USCIS, Replace Your Green Card). Both are done on Form I-90.
Was it a DHS error or not?
This decides the fee.
| Situation | I-90 reason | Fee (G-1055, 10/26/26) |
|---|---|---|
| Card has wrong data because DHS made a mistake | "My existing card has incorrect data because of Department of Homeland Security error" | $0 |
| Legal name change, such as after marriage | Name changed since card issued | $415 online / $465 paper |
| Wrong data that came from your own application | Not a DHS error | $415 online / $465 paper |
The fee schedule lists $0 for those "filing because we issued the card with incorrect information because of a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) error" (USCIS, Form G-1055). Everything else in this post falls under general filing: "Paper Filing: $465 Online Filing: $415."
What do you send for a DHS error?
The original card. The instructions say: "Attach the original Permanent Resident Card issued with the incorrect data. A copy of the card is not acceptable in this case." You must also "include proof of your correct name or biographical data," such as a court order, marriage certificate, divorce decree, birth certificate or passport (USCIS, Instructions for Form I-90).
Compare the card with your I-485 and your passport before filing. If your application listed the same wrong information, the mistake isn't DHS's.
What do you send for a name change?
Registered legal documents. The instructions say "you must submit appropriate legal documents that reflect the name change (for example a registered copy of your marriage certificate, divorce decree, adoption decree, or other court-issued document showing your name was legally changed)." And: "Legal name change documents submitted as evidence of a name change must have been registered with the proper civil authority" (USCIS, Instructions for Form I-90).
For a marriage in India, check that the marriage was registered with the civil authority, since a ceremony certificate alone may not meet that wording.
Update the rest of your records too: your Social Security record, your passport and your employer's records. Our guide to what happens after I-485 approval covers the Social Security side. Our guide to name changes after marriage covers the order for each record.
How do you prove status while the new card is made?
If you sent your original card for a DHS error, you won't have it during processing. USCIS says that "if you no longer have your Permanent Resident Card and you need evidence of your lawful permanent resident status while waiting to receive your replacement Card, we may issue you an Alien Documentation, Identification & Telecommunications (ADIT) stamp after you file this form" (USCIS, Replace Your Green Card). Our guide to the I-551 stamp explains how to get one.
Does your green card name matter for citizenship later?
Yes, your records should line up when you apply. Our guide to naturalization after an employment green card covers the citizenship process, so fix errors on your card before you get there.
What this means for you
- Errors and name changes are both fixed on Form I-90.
- A DHS error is free, but you must send the original card.
- A name change uses the general fee.
- Use registered legal documents for a name change.
- Ask for an ADIT stamp if you need proof of status in the meantime.
Where to start
Still waiting for your green card? Our free evaluation at /evaluate/ checks whether EB-1A or the NIW fits your profile, and Frank, our AI assistant at /frank, helps you build the evidence. Petitions are reviewed and filed by our partner law firm, Lai & Turner.
Sources
All checked November 2, 2026.
- USCIS, Replace Your Green Card. When to replace; ADIT stamp.
- USCIS, Instructions for Form I-90 (01/20/25). DHS error evidence; name change documents.
- USCIS, Form G-1055 Fee Schedule (edition 10/26/26). I-90 fees.
Frequently asked questions
How do I fix a mistake on my green card?
File Form I-90. If the mistake was caused by DHS, choose the reason for incorrect data because of DHS error, send the original card, and include proof of the correct information such as your passport or birth certificate. Form G-1055 lists no fee for this. If the wrong data came from your own application, it isn't a DHS error.
Do I have to change my green card after marriage?
USCIS says you must replace your card if you have legally changed your name or other biographic information on it since you received it. You file Form I-90 and include a registered copy of your marriage certificate or another document showing the legal change. The general fee applies.
How much does it cost to change the name on a green card?
Under Form G-1055 edition 10/26/26, a name change uses the general I-90 fee: $415 online or $465 on paper. Only certain reasons are free, such as a DHS error on the card or a card that was never received and returned as undeliverable. Some applicants may qualify for a fee waiver.
What counts as a DHS error on a green card?
The I-90 instructions describe it as a card that has incorrect data where the error was caused by DHS. A typical example is a misspelled name or wrong date of birth when your application had it right. If the wrong information came from your own forms, the free route doesn't apply, and you'd file with the regular fee.
Can I travel or work while my corrected card is being made?
For a DHS-error filing you must send in the original card, so plan for the gap. USCIS says it may issue an ADIT stamp as evidence of status while you wait for a replacement if you no longer have your card. Ask before you travel, and keep your receipt notice.
Green Card Guide AI is not a law firm and this article is not legal advice. It describes evidence-building strategy in general terms; your attorney determines what belongs in your petition and how it's argued.
