Children obtain U.S. permanent resident status through family, employment, or humanitarian-based immigration. Children may pursue permanent residency by applying for an immigrant visa at a U.S. consulate (“consular processing”). When living in the U.S., children may apply for resident status through the adjustment process (I-485 Form). After obtaining permanent residency, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) will mail the child’s permanent resident card (Form I-551) to the family. At age 14, a child should apply for a new permanent resident card using Form I-90.
What Must a Permanent Resident Child Do upon Reaching Age 14
U.S. law places a registration obligation upon a permanent resident child turning age 14. When a permanent resident child reaches age 14, the child must apply for a replacement card. See 8 C.F.R. § 264.5(b)(8). A child in the U.S. should file the I-90 Form within 30 days after reaching age 14. If a child turns age 14 while traveling outside the U.S., the child may file the I-90 Form within 30 days after returning to the U.S.
How Should a Permanent Resident Child (Age 14) Replace a Resident Card?
The child should file the I-90 Form on her or his behalf. The parent or guardian should not sign the I-90 Form because USCIS requires children to sign their own forms beginning at age 14. USCIS allows applicants to file I-90 Forms online or by mailing the paper application. If families mail an I-90 Form, check the mailing address on USCIS’s website as the agency may change the mailing address.
When preparing the I-90 Form, children (with assistance from parents or a guardian) should carefully select the correct box in part 2. The Form I-90 instructions provide more detail about preparing the form. As USCIS application prices may change, applicants should check USCIS’s website for fees before filing. As of June 2025, an applicant may find the fees in the G-1055 Form.
What Happens if My Family Cannot Pay the I-90 Fee?
USCIS allows an applicant to request a fee waiver when filing an I-90 Form. USCIS does not allow applicants to file an online I-90 Form when requesting a fee waiver.
Does Filing the I-90 Form for a Child (Age 14) Satisfy the Registration Requirement Discussed by the Trump Administration?
No. Filing the I-90 Form alone will not satisfy the registration requirement. Why? By regulation, USCIS does not consider the I-90 application as a registration form. See 8 C.F.R. § 264.1(a).
How Does a Permanent Resident Child Satisfy the Registration Requirement?
U.S. law required registration before President Trump issued the January 2025 Executive Order. See INA § 262, 8 U.S.C. § 1302. For example, INA § 262(a) requires children to register and provide fingerprints upon reaching age 14.
Significantly, permanent resident children automatically satisfy the registration requirement. 8 C.F.R. § 264.1(a) designates the I-485 application as a registration form. Thus, when a child filed the I-485 Form with USCIS, filing the form satisfied the registration requirement. In contrast to adjusting status (I-485 Form), applying for an immigrant visa (DS-260 Form) at a consulate does not satisfy the registration criteria automatically. 8 C.F.R. § 264.1(a) does not list the DS-260 application as a registration form. Fortunately, 8 C.F.R. §264.1(b) designates the permanent residency card (Form I-551) as evidence that a person registered. Thus, receiving the permanent resident card issued by USCIS proves that a child satisfies the registration requirement.