Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, is for a person in the United States to apply for lawful permanent resident status (often referred to as a “Green Card”). …

Permanent Residence is a status—only an immigration judge can take away your permanent residence. Permanent residents should carry their green card (or at a minimum a copy of it).

To apply to renew or replace your card, use Form I-90, Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card. Filing instructions and forms are available on our Web site at www.uscis.gov.

Use Form I-90 if you are a lawful permanent resident (LPR) or an LPR in commuter status who needs to apply to replace or renew your current Permanent Resident Card (Green Card).

Since you were granted permanent residence, have you ever filed Form I-407, Abandonment by Alien of Status as Lawful Permanent Resident, or otherwise been determined to have abandoned your status?

If you are a refugee, you may be able to apply for and obtain permanent resident status 1 year after you are admitted to the United States as a refugee and you:

You can also learn more about permanent records, temporary records, records schedules, and other records and information management topics in our free online training catalog.