If you have just become a permanent resident, or your green card has been lost, you may hear about an I-551 stamp. It is one of the most useful and least understood documents in immigration: a stamp that stands in for a green card for a limited time.
As of October 31, 2026, this guide explains what the stamp is, when you get one, how long it lasts, and how it works for jobs, licenses and travel.
- ADIT stands for Alien Documentation, Identification & Telecommunications.
- An I-551 stamp is temporary evidence of lawful permanent resident status.
- USCIS may issue one if you need proof while waiting for a replacement green card.
- Most machine-readable immigrant visas serve as temporary I-551 evidence for one year from admission.
- A stamp with no expiration date is treated as valid for one year for I-9 purposes.
- Employers must reverify workers who present a temporary Form I-551.
What is an I-551 stamp?
Temporary proof of permanent residence. Form I-551 is the official name of the green card, so the stamp is a temporary version of that evidence. USCIS also calls it an ADIT stamp, short for "Alien Documentation, Identification & Telecommunications" (USCIS, Replace Your Green Card).
You see it in three common forms, listed in the USCIS employer handbook (USCIS, Handbook for Employers M-274, 7.1):
| Form | What it is |
|---|---|
| Passport stamp | "A foreign passport with either a temporary I-551 (ADIT) stamp or I-551 printed notation on a machine-readable immigrant visa" |
| Form I-94 stamp | "The arrival portion of Form I-94, Arrival/Departure Record, containing an unexpired temporary I-551 (ADIT) stamp and a photograph of the employee" |
| Immigrant visa | Most say "UPON ENDORSEMENT SERVES AS TEMPORARY I-551 EVIDENCING PERMANENT RESIDENCE FOR 1 YEAR" |
When do you get one?
In three common situations.
After USCIS approves your green card. USCIS says "when you were granted permanent residence, we may have placed a special stamp in your passport or given you a temporary status document" (USCIS, After Receiving a Decision). This is not automatic in every case. USCIS adds that people already in the U.S. who "have not yet received temporary evidence" should follow the instructions on their approval notice.
After arriving on an immigrant visa. If you went through consular processing, the endorsed visa usually works as temporary evidence for one year after admission. Our guide to NVC and consular processing covers that process.
While replacing a card. 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" ADIT stamp after you file Form I-90 (USCIS, Replace Your Green Card).
How do you ask for one?
Through the USCIS Contact Center. The I-90 notice language says "if you need help obtaining an ADIT stamp, have questions, or need to update your personal information listed above, please visit the USCIS Contact Center" at uscis.gov/contactcenter (USCIS, Replace Your Green Card). Have your passport and any receipt or approval notice ready when you make contact, and follow the instructions USCIS gives you.
Do you need one if you are renewing an expired card? Often not. An I-90 receipt notice can be used with the expired card. USCIS says that notice "provides evidence of your lawful permanent resident status for 36 months from the expiration date on your Permanent Resident Card." Our guide to green card renewal explains that route. The stamp mainly helps when you have no card to show.
How long does the stamp last?
Until its stated date, or about one year if it has none. For the I-94 version, the USCIS handbook says the employee must present the card "no later than when the stamp expires, or one year after U.S. Customs and Border Protection issues the Form I-94 if the stamp does not contain an expiration date." For the passport version, it says "when the stamp expires, or one year after the admission date if the stamp does not contain an expiration date" (USCIS, Handbook for Employers M-274, 7.1).
Those rules are written for employers, but they are the clearest public statement of how the stamp is treated. Look at the date on your own stamp first.
Is a stamp the same as a green card?
For proving status, it does the same job for a limited time. It is not a separate benefit, and it does not change your rights as a permanent resident. It shows that you already hold that status. The difference is that it has a much shorter life than the card, and the people relying on it have to look at it more closely. That means you should keep a clear copy of the stamp page, and of the approval notice or receipt behind it.
How does it work for your job?
It is valid for Form I-9, with one extra step. An employer "must reverify their employment authorization using Supplement B" if you show a temporary Form I-551. That is different from a normal green card, where the handbook says "you are not required to reverify the employment eligibility of a lawful permanent resident who presented these documents" (USCIS, Handbook for Employers M-274, 7.1).
You also get to choose which documents you present. "You must allow employees to choose which document(s) they will present from the Lists of Acceptable Documents," the handbook tells employers. Once you have an unrestricted Social Security card and a driver's license, for example, that combination can also be used.
What else can you use it for?
USCIS lists three uses of a stamp or temporary status document until your card arrives (USCIS, After Receiving a Decision):
- "You apply for an unrestricted social security card"
- "You apply for a driver's license"
- "You need to travel abroad for less than one year"
State motor vehicle offices set their own document rules, so check with yours before you go.
What if your card never arrives?
Ask USCIS through its online e-Request tool. The process normally starts with a welcome notice, followed by the card. USCIS says to submit an e-Request if "it has been more than 30 days since you became a permanent resident, and you have not received your welcome notice," or "it has been more than 30 days since you received your welcome notice but you have not received your new card" (USCIS, After Receiving a Decision). If you need proof in the meantime, ask about a stamp. Our guide to I-797 notices explains how to read what USCIS sends you.
What if you are abroad and have no card?
A stamp usually is not the answer once you have left. USCIS says "if you lose your Green Card or reentry permit or it is stolen or destroyed while you are abroad, you may need to file a Form I-131A," which "will allow an airline or other transportation carrier to board" you for the return trip (USCIS, International Travel as a Permanent Resident). Our guide to losing a green card abroad walks through those steps.
Before any trip, check that the stamp stays valid through your return date. A stamp that expires while you are overseas can leave you with the same problem as having no card.
What this means for you
- Check whether your passport or approval notice already includes temporary evidence.
- Note the date on the stamp, or assume about one year if there is none.
- Tell your employer the date, since it will need to reverify you.
- Use the 30-day markers before asking USCIS about a missing card.
- Do not travel on a stamp that will expire before you return.
Where to start
If you are still working toward a 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 October 31, 2026.
- USCIS, Replace Your Green Card. ADIT stamp; I-90 receipt notice.
- USCIS, Handbook for Employers M-274, 7.1. Forms of temporary I-551; duration; reverification.
- USCIS, After Receiving a Decision. Stamp use; 30-day markers; e-Request.
- USCIS, International Travel as a Permanent Resident. Lost card abroad; Form I-131A.
Frequently asked questions
What is an I-551 stamp?
It is a temporary endorsement in a passport or on Form I-94 that shows lawful permanent residence. USCIS also calls it an ADIT stamp. It is used when you do not yet have, or no longer have, your physical green card. It proves your status for a limited time, and you still need the actual card after that.
How long is an I-551 stamp valid?
Until the expiration date on it. The USCIS employer handbook says a stamp with no expiration date is treated as valid for one year from admission or from when U.S. Customs and Border Protection issued the Form I-94. Most machine-readable immigrant visas say they serve as temporary evidence for one year from the date of admission.
How do I get an I-551 stamp?
USCIS says it may place a stamp in your passport when it grants permanent residence, and may issue one after you file Form I-90 if you no longer have your card and need evidence of status. To request help, USCIS directs people to its Contact Center. If you came on an immigrant visa, the endorsed visa itself usually serves as the temporary proof.
Can I work with an I-551 stamp?
Yes. Your employer can accept a foreign passport with a temporary I-551 stamp, or Form I-94 with a stamp and photo, for Form I-9. Unlike a regular green card, it requires reverification. You must show a new acceptable document by the date in the employer handbook, normally when the stamp expires.
Can I travel with an I-551 stamp?
USCIS says you can use a stamp or temporary status document while waiting for your card if you need to travel abroad for less than one year. Make sure the stamp will still be valid when you return. If you lose your card abroad or the stamp expires, you may need separate carrier documentation.
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.
