Updated November 4, 2026

I-551 stamp (ADIT stamp): temporary proof of green card status, mail delivery and appointments

An I-551 stamp, also called an ADIT stamp, is temporary proof of lawful permanent resident or conditional permanent resident status placed inside an unexpired passport or on a Form I-94 with a photograph. According to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), the agency sets the validity period based on your situation, not to exceed 1 year unless specified otherwise by regulation or policy.

There is no fee for the appointment. You can request one by calling the USCIS Contact Center at 800-375-5283 (where eligible residents receive a stamped Form I-94 by express mail) or by submitting an online field office appointment request.

What is an I-551 stamp (ADIT stamp)?

Form I-551 is the government form number for the Permanent Resident Card, commonly called a green card. An I-551 stamp, also referred to as an Alien Documentation, Identification and Telecommunication (ADIT) stamp, is temporary evidence of lawful permanent resident (LPR) or conditional permanent resident (CPR) status issued by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) or U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

Under the USCIS Policy Manual, an officer may place an ADIT stamp only inside an unexpired foreign passport or on an Arrival/Departure Record (Form I-94). According to the USCIS SAVE guide to commonly used immigration documents, the ink on the stamp may be red or blue depending on the issuing agency and when it was issued, and the stamp stays valid until the expiration date written on it.

If you do not have an unexpired foreign passport, or if USCIS mails your temporary evidence to you, the officer places the ADIT stamp on a paper Form I-94 along with your photograph and a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) seal over the stamp and photo. For applicants who recently finished a marriage green card or consular processing, it is helpful to distinguish between the three types of temporary I-551 evidence.

How does a Machine Readable Immigrant Visa (MRIV) work as a temporary I-551?

If you immigrated from outside the United States through a U.S. embassy or consulate, the Department of State placed a Machine Readable Immigrant Visa (MRIV) directly onto a page of your foreign passport. According to USCIS SAVE guidance, the MRIV usually carries the printed text: "UPON ENDORSEMENT SERVES AS TEMPORARY I-551 EVIDENCING PERMANENT RESIDENCE FOR 1 YEAR."

When you first arrive at a U.S. port of entry and complete the inspection where CBP officers ask questions at the US border, the officer places an admission stamp in your passport with the admission date and endorsement. That endorsed MRIV proves your permanent resident or conditional permanent resident status for 1 year starting on the date of admission, while USCIS prints and mails your physical plastic card.

The USCIS Handbook for Employers (M-274) notes two special cases for MRIVs: even if an MRIV was printed without the words "FOR 1 YEAR," employers and agencies treat it as valid evidence of permanent residence for 1 year from the date of admission. Also, if the CBP admission stamp is endorsed "CR-1" and is placed near the MRIV rather than directly on top of it, it is still a valid endorsement.

When do you need an I-551 stamp, and when does a receipt notice cover you?

Under Section 264 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), every lawful permanent resident age 18 and older is legally required to carry their alien registration receipt card or proof of registration at all times. Failing to do so is a misdemeanor under federal law. Because permanent residents are entitled to proof of status, USCIS issues an ADIT stamp when you do not have a valid plastic green card or valid automatic extension notice in your possession.

You may need to request an ADIT stamp from USCIS if you fit one of these USCIS scenarios:

• You are a new permanent resident waiting for your initial card, for example after adjustment of status, or your card was never received.
• Your physical green card was lost, stolen, mutilated or destroyed, and you have filed Form I-90 for a replacement card.
• Your Form I-90 (replacement/renewal), Form I-751 (removal of conditions) or Form N-400 (naturalization) is still pending with USCIS, and both your plastic green card and your automatic extension receipt notice have expired.
• You are a permanent resident in deportation, exclusion or removal proceedings. Under 8 CFR 264.5(g) and the USCIS Policy Manual, you remain entitled to temporary evidence of permanent resident status until ordered excluded, deported or removed.

When does a receipt notice cover you without an I-551 stamp?

Before you request a stamp, check whether you already have automatic proof of status. Many older articles online still claim that a Form I-90 receipt extends a green card for 24 months. That figure is outdated. Effective September 10, 2024, USCIS increased the automatic extension on Form I-90 renewal receipt notices to 36 months from the expiration date on the face of the expired green card.

Similarly, effective December 12, 2022, permanent residents who properly file Form N-400 (Application for Naturalization) receive a Form N-400 receipt notice that automatically extends their green card for up to 24 months, without needing to file Form I-90. Conditional residents who timely file Form I-751 or Form I-829 also receive a receipt notice (Form I-797 or Form I-797C) extending their conditional resident status while the petition is pending. As long as you hold both your expired plastic green card and an unexpired extension receipt notice, you have valid proof of work and travel authorization and do not need an ADIT stamp.

Worked example of extension dates: Suppose the expiration date printed on the front of your 10-year green card is May 15, 2025, and you still have the plastic card in your wallet. If you properly file Form I-90 to renew it, your Form I-797 receipt notice extends the card for 36 months, giving you valid proof of status through May 15, 2028. If instead you filed Form N-400 for naturalization on or after December 12, 2022, your N-400 receipt notice extends your card for 24 months, covering you through May 15, 2027. You would only need to ask USCIS for an ADIT stamp if you lose the physical expired card, or if your case is still pending after May 15, 2028 (for the I-90) or May 15, 2027 (for the N-400).

How do you get an I-551 stamp by mail or in person?

Since March 16, 2023, USCIS has used a mail delivery process that lets many permanent residents get temporary proof of status without visiting a field office. You can start your request either by calling the USCIS Contact Center or by using the online appointment request form. USCIS appointments and ADIT stamps themselves are free, though underlying forms like Form I-90 carry their own filing fees.

Follow this step-by-step plan to request your stamp:

Step 1: Have your case details ready. Before calling or filling out the online form, gather your full legal name, date of birth, Alien Registration Number (A-Number), and the Form I-797C receipt number for your pending Form I-90, Form I-751 or Form N-400. If you recently applied for a card after approval, USCIS asks on its appointment page that you allow about 60 days to receive your document before submitting an inquiry.

Step 2: Call the USCIS Contact Center at 800-375-5283 (TTY: 800-767-1833) or use the online request form at my.uscis.gov/en/appointment/v2. Note that the online form is a request tool for an in-person field office appointment only, not a self-scheduling tool. You can request a specific date and time, and the Contact Center will review field office availability and contact you by phone or email using your reference number.

Step 3: Complete identity and address verification with the officer. When you speak with an immigration services officer at the Contact Center, the officer verifies your identity, your physical mailing address, and whether that address can receive UPS or FedEx express mail.

Step 4: Receive your stamped Form I-94 by mail (if eligible). If an in-person appointment is not required, the officer forwards your request to the local USCIS field office. The field office reviews the request and mails you a Form I-94 with an ADIT stamp, a DHS seal, and a printed photograph of you pulled from USCIS systems.

Step 5: Attend a field office appointment (if required). USCIS still requires an in-person appointment at a field office if you have an urgent need, if USCIS does not have a useable photograph of you in its systems, or if the officer cannot confirm your identity or physical address.

What should you know before your USCIS field office appointment?

If USCIS schedules you for an in-person ADIT stamp appointment at a local field office, the agency enforces strict check-in, security and attendance rules published on the myUSCIS appointment portal. Missing a rule can mean losing your slot.

Have your unexpired foreign passport ready if you want the stamp placed inside your passport, along with your application details (name, date of birth, A-Number and receipt number) and any documents listed on your USCIS appointment confirmation letter. Work through this day-of checklist before you leave home:

• Arrive 15 minutes early, and no earlier. USCIS instructs visitors to arrive 15 minutes before their appointment time to pass through security and check in, and specifically states not to arrive earlier than 15 minutes.
• Do not be late. If you arrive late, USCIS cancels your appointment and you have to reschedule.
• Come alone unless someone else is required. USCIS notes that field offices are small and only the people who need to attend should come.
• Set up any interpreter by phone. Do not bring an interpreter in person to the field office. If you need an interpreter, USCIS instructs you to arrange for one to be available by telephone.
• Leave sharp objects and sprays at home. USCIS prohibits scissors, knives, nail clippers, tweezers, other sharp objects, and flammable liquids, including aerosol sprays and bottles of perfume.
• Never pay anyone for an appointment. USCIS appointments are free. If someone tries to sell you an appointment, USCIS asks you to report it to the Contact Center at 800-375-5283.

What will the USCIS officer verify when you request an ADIT stamp?

Whether you speak with a Contact Center immigration services officer by phone or appear at a local field office window, the officer has to confirm specific facts in USCIS records before issuing temporary proof of status. Be ready to answer these checks clearly:

• Your identity and biographic details: The representative will ask for your full name, date of birth, and 7- to 9-digit Alien Registration Number (A-Number). Make sure the address on file in your USCIS Online Account matches your current physical residence.
• Your underlying pending application: The officer checks USCIS systems to verify your LPR or CPR status and confirm your receipt number for Form I-90, Form I-751 or Form N-400, or that you are waiting on an initial card.
• Your mailing address and courier eligibility: For phone requests, the officer asks for your physical mailing address and specifically checks whether that address can receive UPS or FedEx express mail deliveries.
• Why you need an in-person slot instead of mail delivery: If you are asking for an in-person field office visit, the officer checks whether you have an urgent need, lack a useable photo in USCIS systems, or have an unconfirmed identity or address.

How long is an I-551 stamp valid?

An I-551 stamp is valid until the expiration date written on the stamp. Under USCIS policy, the agency determines whether you should receive an ADIT stamp and has the discretion to set the validity period based on your situation, not to exceed 1 year unless specified otherwise by regulation or policy.

What if there is no expiration date written on the stamp? The USCIS Handbook for Employers (M-274) sets a clear 1-year fallback rule:

• For a Form I-94 with a temporary I-551 stamp and photo that does not show an expiration date, it is valid for 1 year after CBP issues the Form I-94 (or 1 year from the date of admission).
• For a foreign passport with a temporary I-551 stamp or MRIV notation that does not show an expiration date, it is valid for 1 year after the admission date.

How do you use an I-551 stamp for Form I-9 and employment verification?

Both versions of the I-551 stamp prove your identity and authorization to work in the United States, and employees are never required to show a List B or List C document when they present valid List A documentation. However, USCIS I-9 Central and the M-274 Handbook for Employers treat a stamped passport and a stamped Form I-94 differently.

How to tell the two Form I-94 versions apart: USCIS I-9 Central alerted employers that the agency now issues two visual layouts of Form I-94 with an ADIT stamp. On a mail-delivered ("delivery") Form I-94, the permanent resident's printed photo appears on the top right portion of the form. On an "in-person" Form I-94 issued at a field office, the photo is affixed to the top left portion of the form. Both versions carry the DHS seal over the ADIT stamp and photo, and both are acceptable List A receipts for Form I-9 and E-Verify.

How Section 2 and reverification work: When completing Section 1 of Form I-9, a lawful permanent resident or conditional resident selects "A lawful permanent resident" and enters their 7- to 9-digit A-Number or USCIS Number. Unlike a standard plastic Permanent Resident Card (which an employer must never reverify when it expires), a temporary I-551 stamp requires follow-up when it expires. Under federal anti-discrimination rules described in the M-274, employers must let the employee choose which acceptable document to present and cannot demand a specific document during reverification of a passport stamp.

If an employer has questions about accepting an expired card with an extension notice for Form I-9, USCIS provides a dedicated employer/employee helpline on its Replace Your Green Card page at 888-897-7781 (TTY: 877-875-6028). For questions about the status or use of a mailed Form I-94 with an ADIT stamp, call the USCIS Contact Center at 800-375-5283.

Can you travel internationally with an I-551 stamp?

Yes. The USCIS Policy Manual states that lawful permanent residents may request an ADIT stamp as documentation of status for travel, employment, or other purposes while their Form I-90 is pending or when they do not have their green card. Remember that an officer can place an ADIT stamp only in an unexpired passport or on a Form I-94, and you must also check whether the foreign country you are visiting requires an unexpired passport or visa for entry.

Keep three USCIS international travel rules in mind before you leave the United States:

Trips of more than a year: A general guide used by USCIS is whether you have been absent from the United States for more than a year in determining whether a resident has abandoned permanent resident status, though abandonment can be found on shorter trips if you did not intend to make the U.S. your permanent home. If you plan to be outside the United States for longer than a year, USCIS advises applying for a Reentry Permit on Form I-131 before you leave. A reentry permit is normally valid for 2 years from issuance. If you stay outside the U.S. for more than 2 years, you may need a Returning Resident (SB-1) visa from a U.S. embassy or consulate.

Naturalization residency clock: Absences from the United States of 6 months or more may disrupt the continuous residency required for naturalization, and absences of 1 year or longer may require Form N-470 to preserve residence.

Lost or stolen card while outside the U.S.: USCIS cannot mail a green card to an address outside the United States (except via U.S. armed forces or diplomatic postal systems for those on military or government orders). If your green card or reentry permit is lost, stolen or destroyed while you are traveling abroad, you may need to file Form I-131A (Application for Travel Document / Carrier Documentation) so an airline or transportation carrier can board you on a return flight to the United States without penalty.

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This is interview practice, not legal advice. For questions about your own case, talk to an immigration attorney. Visaful is not affiliated with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) or any government agency.