ADIT Stamp (Temporary I-551): How to Request It from USCIS

Quick Answer: How Do You Request an ADIT Stamp?

If you are in the United States and need an ADIT stamp, also called temporary I-551 evidence, you can submit an online appointment request through USCIS. If USCIS’s online tools do not provide the help you need, contact the USCIS Contact Center.

Before requesting temporary evidence, check whether your Green Card and a current USCIS extension notice, or an endorsed immigrant visa, already provide usable proof of permanent resident status.

USCIS may mail temporary evidence on Form I-94 or require an in-person field office appointment. An ADIT stamp proves existing permanent resident status; it does not grant or renew that status.

What Is an ADIT Stamp (Temporary I-551)?

An ADIT stamp is temporary evidence of existing lawful permanent resident status. It is also commonly called a temporary I-551 stamp. ADIT stands for Alien Documentation, Identification and Telecommunication.

USCIS may place temporary I-551 evidence in a passport or issue it on Form I-94 with a photograph. The physical Permanent Resident Card, commonly called a Green Card, is also Form I-551, but an ADIT stamp is temporary evidence used when a resident does not have other usable proof of status.

An ADIT stamp does not create, extend, or renew permanent resident status. It documents status that already exists.

If you are trying to locate the document number printed on your physical Green Card, see our I-551 number guide.

Can You Download Form I-551 as a PDF?

No. Form I-551 is not a blank application form that you download and complete. Form I-551 is the official designation for the Permanent Resident Card and for certain temporary evidence of permanent resident status.

If you need to renew or replace a physical Green Card, Form I-90 may apply depending on your situation. If you need temporary proof of existing permanent resident status while your card is unavailable, USCIS may issue temporary I-551 evidence such as an ADIT stamp.

If you are looking for the number printed on a Permanent Resident Card, see our I-551 number guide.

Do You Already Have Valid Evidence of Permanent Resident Status?

Before requesting an ADIT stamp, check whether the documents you already have provide current evidence of permanent resident status. An expired Green Card may remain usable when presented with a USCIS notice that specifically extends its validity.

Do not request an ADIT stamp solely because the expiration date printed on your Green Card has passed. First check whether USCIS has extended the card’s validity through a current Form I-797 or Form I-797C notice. A receipt notice that only confirms a filing is not automatically an extension unless USCIS states that it extends the card’s validity.

Who May Need an ADIT Stamp?

A lawful permanent resident or conditional permanent resident may need an ADIT stamp when they do not have a usable Green Card or other current evidence of status.

This can include situations where a card was lost, stolen, damaged, never received, or is unavailable while a replacement, naturalization application, or petition to remove conditions is pending.

Temporary evidence may also be needed for employment, travel, Social Security, state identification, benefits, or another documentation requirement.

Before requesting an ADIT stamp, check whether another USCIS-issued document already provides valid evidence.

Do You Need to File Form I-90 Before Requesting an ADIT Stamp?

No. You do not always need to file Form I-90 before requesting an ADIT stamp or other temporary I-551 evidence. The correct underlying filing depends on why your Green Card or other proof of permanent resident status is unavailable.

Form I-90 generally applies to qualifying Green Card renewal, replacement, or correction situations. For example, it may apply when a 10-year Green Card is expired, expiring, lost, stolen, or damaged.

Other situations follow different procedures. Conditional permanent residents generally do not use Form I-90 simply to renew an expiring two-year Green Card.

A person with a pending Form I-751, Form I-829, or Form N-400 may have a different underlying process. A newly admitted immigrant whose Green Card has not arrived may need to address card delivery rather than file a renewal application.

USCIS may ask for a receipt number or other case information when reviewing a request for temporary evidence.

If Form I-90 applies to your situation, see our Green Card renewal or Green Card replacement guide for the appropriate next steps.

How to Request an ADIT Stamp from USCIS

If you are inside the United States, you can submit a USCIS online appointment request for an ADIT Stamp. This is a request for USCIS assistance, not an online Form I-551 application. USCIS decides whether temporary evidence can be mailed or whether you need an in-person appointment.

If the online tools do not provide the help you need, contact the USCIS Contact Center.

1. Check your existing evidence. Review your Green Card and any current USCIS receipt or extension notices.
2. Identify why you need temporary evidence. For example, your card may be lost, damaged, expired without a usable extension, delayed, or connected to a pending case.
3. Gather your case information. Have your A-Number, receipt numbers, current mailing address, and relevant USCIS notices available.
4. Submit the USCIS request. Use the USCIS online appointment-request system and select ADIT Stamp. If the online tools cannot resolve your request, contact the USCIS Contact Center.
5. Explain any urgent need. Provide accurate information about a travel, employment, benefit, or other documentation deadline.
6. Follow USCIS instructions. USCIS may mail temporary evidence or require you to appear at a field office. When you receive the evidence, check your identifying information and validity period.

Will USCIS Mail ADIT Evidence or Require an Appointment?

USCIS may either mail temporary I-551 evidence or require you to appear at a field office. The method depends on the circumstances of the request and whether USCIS can complete the necessary identity and document checks without an in-person visit.

Mailed temporary evidence

When mail delivery is available, USCIS may issue Form I-94 containing:

• An ADIT stamp;
• A DHS seal;
• A photograph drawn from USCIS records; and
• A printed validity or expiration period.

In-person appointment

USCIS may require an in-person appointment when the request is urgent, it does not have a usable photograph in its systems, or the resident’s identity or address cannot be confirmed. USCIS provides the appointment instructions when an appearance is required.

What Does an ADIT Stamp or Temporary I-551 Look Like?

An ADIT stamp does not have one single appearance. USCIS may place temporary I-551 evidence in a foreign passport or issue it on Form I-94.

A passport endorsement may contain temporary I-551 wording, identifying information, and a validity date. When USCIS mails temporary evidence, Form I-94 may include an ADIT stamp, DHS seal, and a printed photograph from USCIS records.

Because the format can vary, follow the information and expiration date on the document USCIS issued to you.

What Information and Documents Might USCIS Request?

The information USCIS needs depends on your circumstances and whether it handles the request by mail or through an appointment. Have the following information or documents available when applicable:

• A-Number;
• USCIS receipt number;
• Valid passport, when available;
• Expired or damaged Green Card;
• Form I-797 or I-797C notice;
• Government-issued identity document;
• Appointment confirmation, if USCIS schedules an in-person visit;
• Current mailing address; and
• Evidence of an urgent need, when applicable.

USCIS determines the required documents based on the person’s circumstances. A passport may allow USCIS to place temporary I-551 evidence directly in it. Not having a passport does not necessarily prevent USCIS from issuing Form I-94 evidence. If Form I-90 is the underlying filing, review the Form I-90 document checklist for application-specific supporting evidence. This list provides general preparation guidance and is not a universal checklist.

How Long Is an ADIT Stamp Valid?

USCIS determines the validity period for an I-551 or ADIT stamp based on the resident’s circumstances. Follow the expiration date printed on the passport endorsement or Form I-94 rather than assuming every stamp remains valid for one year.

An immigrant visa endorsed at admission generally serves as temporary I-551 evidence for one year from the admission date. When temporary evidence expires, the resident may need to request new proof. Expiration of the document does not, by itself, mean lawful permanent resident status has ended.

What Can an ADIT Stamp Be Used For?

Valid temporary I-551 evidence can be used to document lawful permanent resident status for purposes such as employment verification, international travel and return to the United States, Social Security matters, driver’s license or state identification applications, and benefits administration.

For Form I-9, a foreign passport containing a temporary I-551 stamp is listed as a List A document. Form I-94 issued to a lawful permanent resident with an I-551 stamp and photograph is also recognized as an acceptable receipt in the Form I-9 process.

Other agencies, carriers, or organizations may apply their own document-verification rules.

Can You Travel with an ADIT Stamp?

A valid ADIT stamp may serve as evidence of lawful permanent resident status when you return to the United States. The document should remain valid through the anticipated return date, and travelers should confirm boarding requirements with the carrier before departure.

An ADIT stamp does not eliminate inspection, admissibility, or other entry requirements. It also does not resolve possible abandonment concerns arising from an extended absence.

A USCIS receipt or extension notice without the associated expired Green Card may not, on its own, provide usable travel documentation. Obtain case-specific guidance if the trip or absence raises additional concerns.

What If You Are Already Outside the United States?

If you are already outside the United States, the domestic ADIT request process may not resolve an immediate airline boarding problem. A permanent resident whose card expired or was lost or stolen abroad should contact the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate before attempting travel.

Form I-131A carrier documentation may apply in qualifying circumstances, but filing Form I-90 does not independently authorize an airline to transport the resident.

An ADIT stamp, an endorsed immigrant visa, and Form I-131A documentation are different forms of evidence with separate purposes and requirements. Confirm the applicable process before making travel arrangements.

Is There a Fee for an ADIT Stamp?

USCIS does not charge a fee for an appointment request. USCIS states that its appointments are free. However, the application or petition connected to your situation may have its own government filing fee.

For example, Form I-90, Form I-751, and other filings have separate fees and filing requirements. Before filing an underlying application, check the current USCIS Fee Schedule and the instructions for that form.

If Form I-90 applies to your situation, see our current Form I-90 fee guide.

How Do You Request an ADIT Stamp for an Urgent Need?

If you need temporary evidence urgently, explain the deadline and why you need the document when submitting your USCIS appointment request. Provide accurate supporting information, such as an upcoming travel date, employment deadline, or written request from an agency.

USCIS decides whether an in-person appointment or other handling is appropriate. Do not purchase nonrefundable travel based only on an assumption that USCIS will issue temporary evidence by a particular date. Follow all USCIS instructions and communications.

When Should You Speak with an Immigration Lawyer?

Consider speaking with an immigration lawyer if the issue involves more than obtaining proof of an otherwise clear permanent resident status. Examples include a missed Form I-751 or Form I-829 deadline, an extended absence from the United States, removal proceedings, conflicting USCIS records, or uncertainty about whether you remain a permanent resident.

Legal review may also help when you cannot determine whether Form I-90, I-751, I-829, I-131A, or another procedure applies.

FAQs About I-551 (ADIT) Stamp