I-551 Stamp: Temporary Green Card Evidence

If you are a lawful permanent resident without your physical green card in hand, the I-551 stamp is how the government proves your status in the meantime. Also called the ADIT stamp, it is temporary evidence of permanent resident status that can be used to work, travel, and access benefits while you wait for a replacement or renewed card. This guide explains what the stamp is, who needs one, how it is requested under the current 2026 process, and what both employees and employers need to know about keeping work authorization valid. If you are still in the green card pipeline, Alma's employment-based green card services can help you reach the point where this document matters.

What Is the I-551 Stamp?

The green card's official name is Form I-551, Permanent Resident Card. When a person holds permanent resident status but does not have that physical card available, USCIS issues temporary evidence of the same status. That evidence is the I-551 stamp.

According to USCIS, the agency uses either an I-551 (ADIT) stamp or a temporary I-551 printed notation on a machine-readable immigrant visa to show temporary evidence of lawful permanent residence. If a passport is not available, USCIS can place the stamp on a Form I-94 and attach a photograph, which then counts as a receipt.

"ADIT" stands for Alien Documentation, Identification and Telecommunication, the federal records system behind the document. The terms ADIT stamp, I-551 stamp, and temporary I-551 all refer to the same thing. The stamp bridges the gap between the date a person became (or remained) a permanent resident and the date the physical card arrives.

I-551 Stamp vs. the Physical Green Card

The difference is durability, not status. The physical green card is the long-term document, valid for ten years for most residents or two years for conditional residents. The stamp carries the identical legal status but is temporary with a one year cap. It conveys the same rights to live, work, and travel as the physical green card. The stamp simply has an expiration built in.

The ADIT Stamp and the MRIV

There are two main forms of this temporary evidence. The first is the ADIT stamp placed in a valid passport or, when no passport is available, on a Form I-94 with a photo attached. The second is the temporary I-551 notation printed on a machine-readable immigrant visa, which applies to new arrivals. Both prove the same status. The version a person receives depends on the situation and the documents already held.

Who Needs an I-551 Stamp?

Per USCIS, residents may need an ADIT stamp if they do not have their green card, or if a Form I-90, Form I-751, or Form N-400 is still pending and both the green card and any extension notice have expired. The most common situations are below.

New Permanent Residents from Consular Processing

For a person who became a permanent resident abroad through consular processing, a stamp is not needed right away. On entry to the United States, Customs and Border Protection endorses the immigrant visa, and that endorsed visa serves as temporary I-551 evidence of permanent residence for one year from the date of admission.

USCIS mails the physical card after the required Immigrant Fee is paid. Per USCIS, if the card does not arrive within 90 days of admission, a resident can contact USCIS, and doing so within the one-year window preserves proof of status. For those who complete the process inside the country instead, Alma's adjustment of status support handles the filings that produce the card.

Lost, Stolen, or Damaged Green Cards

When a card is lost, stolen, or damaged, the general process is to file Form I-90 to replace it first, then request an ADIT stamp if proof of status is needed before the new card arrives. This is one of the most frequent reasons residents seek the stamp, since a missing card can stall a job offer, a trip, or a benefit application.

Pending I-90, I-751, or N-400 Cases

When a person files to replace, renew, or convert status, the receipt notice extends status automatically. As of June 2026, the periods are:

• Form I-90 (renewal or replacement): the receipt notice extends green card validity for 36 months, effective September 10, 2024, per USCIS.
• Form I-751 (removing conditions on a conditional card): the receipt notice extends status for 48 months, per USCIS.
• Form N-400 (naturalization): the receipt notice extends a green card for 24 months, per USCIS.

The receipt notice is paired with the expired card to prove status during those windows. The ADIT stamp becomes the fallback when an extension period runs out while a case is still pending, or when there is no physical card to pair with the notice in the first place.

How to Get an I-551 Stamp in 2026

The process is built around a single phone call, with USCIS deciding whether the stamp can be received by mail or in person.

Step 1: Call the USCIS Contact Center

The process begins with the USCIS Contact Center at 800-375-5283 (TTY 800-767-1833). An officer verifies identity and mailing address, and checks whether that address can receive express mail from UPS or FedEx. An A-Number and any receipt number are typically needed for the call.

Step 2: Mail Delivery or In-Person Appointment

After verifying these details, the officer either submits a request for the field office to issue the stamp, or schedules an in-person appointment if one is needed.

Under the mail process USCIS announced on March 16, 2023, the field office can mail a Form I-94 with the ADIT stamp, the DHS seal, and a printed photo pulled from USCIS systems. On a mailed I-94 the photo appears at the top right; on an in-person version it appears at the top left. Both are equally valid.

An in-person appearance still applies where there is an urgent need, where USCIS does not have a usable photo on file, or where address or identity cannot be confirmed. USCIS uses an online appointment request form for these cases, but it is not a self-scheduling tool, so the Contact Center confirms the actual appointment.

Step 3: What to Bring and How Long It Lasts

For an in-person appointment, USCIS generally requests a valid passport, the old or expired green card if available, the I-797 or I-797C receipt notice for the underlying case, the appointment confirmation, and proof of any urgent need such as a travel itinerary.

For validity, USCIS has discretion to set the period based on the circumstances, and it does not exceed one year unless a regulation or policy says otherwise. For new immigrants, the temporary I-551 on the immigrant visa is evidence of status for one year from the date of admission.

Skip the guesswork on your green card filings The ADIT stamp is a bridge, not a permanent fix. The cleaner path is making sure the underlying case is filed correctly the first time, so the physical card arrives without delays that lead to chasing temporary evidence. Alma is an attorney-led, tech-enabled immigration law firm that handles adjustment of status and consular green card filings for individuals and company-sponsored employees, with case tracking and direct attorney access throughout. See full options on Alma's pricing page.

What the I-551 Stamp Lets You Do

A valid I-551 stamp functions like a green card for as long as it lasts. The three uses that matter most to employees and employers are below.

Employment

The stamp shows authorization to work. For a new hire or a reverification, a passport bearing the stamp, or a stamped Form I-94 with a photo, can be presented to complete Form I-9. This is the most common point where the document comes into play for working residents, and it is covered in detail in the next section.

Travel and Re-Entry

The stamp in a passport, or the stamped Form I-94, demonstrates permanent resident status on re-entry to the United States. When an extension period is close to expiring, the stamp can be requested before international travel and carried together with the receipt notice.

State IDs and Benefits

State agencies that require proof of permanent resident status, such as a department of motor vehicles or the Social Security Administration, generally accept the stamp. Some offices are less familiar with temporary documentation than with the physical card, so the receipt notice can serve as supporting documentation.

Form I-9 and E-Verify: What Employers and Employees Should Know

This is where the stamp matters most in the workplace, so both sides benefit from understanding the rules from the USCIS Handbook for Employers (M-274).

What Counts as a Valid Document

A foreign passport with a temporary I-551 (ADIT) stamp, or with the I-551 notation printed on a machine-readable immigrant visa, is a List A document for Form I-9. The arrival portion of Form I-94 containing an unexpired ADIT stamp and a photo of the employee is a List A receipt. Both establish identity and work authorization on their own, so the employee does not need to provide anything from List B or List C alongside them.

The Follow-Up Requirement

Because these documents are temporary, USCIS sets a deadline for the employee to present a permanent document. Under the M-274, the employee presents a List A or List C document when the stamp expires, or one year after the admission date or I-94 issuance date if the stamp shows no expiration date.

Reverification Rules for Employers

This is the detail employers miss most often. A standard green card, even an expired one, is never reverified. A temporary I-551 stamp is different. Per USCIS reverification guidance, employers reverify employment authorization no later than when the temporary I-551 expires, using Form I-9 Supplement B.

Two points follow from the Form I-9 rules. First, the reverification date is tied to the stamp's expiration, or the one-year mark if no date is printed. Second, any valid List A document is accepted, and a specific document such as the physical card is not required. For company-wide compliance support, Alma works with employers on these filings and tracking.

Fees and Forms

The ADIT stamp itself carries no USCIS fee. Costs come from the underlying case that establishes the need for proof of status. Filing fees, per the USCIS Fee Schedule (Form G-1055) and as of June 2026, are:

• Form I-90 (replace permanent resident card): $465 by paper, or $415 online. There is no fee where USCIS issued a card that was never received, or where the card contained a DHS error.
• Form I-751 (remove conditions on residence): $750.
• Form N-400 (naturalization): $760 by paper, or $710 online, with a reduced fee of $380 for qualifying households and a fee waiver for military applicants.
• Form I-485 (adjustment of status), for context: $1,440, or $950 for a child under 14 filing with a parent.

Under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (Public Law 119-21, signed July 4, 2025), USCIS began annual inflation adjustments to certain statutory immigration fees effective January 1, 2026, per USCIS. Those first-round adjustments did not change the I-90, I-751, N-400, or I-485 filing fees listed above, which remain at their prior levels as of June 2026. Current amounts are on the USCIS fee schedule, and an amount that does not match the schedule can lead to rejection.

Alma's professional fees are separate from these USCIS filing fees. Per Alma's pricing and as of June 2026, the adult adjustment of status bundle (I-485, I-765, I-131) is $2,000, a consular green card is $2,500, and renewals of Advance Parole or an EAD based on a pending adjustment of status case are $1,500 each.

Why Choose Alma for Your Green Card Process

The I-551 stamp exists to cover gaps. The better outcome is avoiding those gaps by filing a I-751 or I-90 petition as early as possibleso the physical card arrives on schedule. That is the part Alma is built for.

Alma is an attorney-led, tech-enabled immigration law firm serving both individuals and businesses. It handles the adjustment of status and consular green card filings that create new permanent residents, plus employment-based categories like EB-2 NIW and EB-1. Per Alma's pricing page, fees are flat and transparent, charged per case, with a 50/50 payment plan available and volume rates for companies. Each case includes a dedicated attorney, platform-based case tracking, and direct communication, so the status of a card or case is always visible. Alma pairs expert attorneys with a software-enabled system that learns from every case it files. Outcomes from real clients are described in Alma's case studies.

For employees and employers, the value is consistency. An early and correctly prepared filing reduces the chance of delays, lost paperwork, or expired extensions that send a person back to the Contact Center for a stamp. Schedule a consultation to map out your green card or company-sponsored process.