A conditional resident must ask USCIS to remove the conditions before the card expires. A marriage-based joint petition on Form I-751 must be filed during the 90 days immediately before conditional residence expires, and an investor files Form I-829 within the 90 days before the second anniversary shown on the card.
Quick answer
| Form | Who files | Timing stated by USCIS |
|---|---|---|
| I-751, joint petition | Marriage-based conditional residents | During the 90 days immediately before conditional residence expires; earlier filing may be rejected |
| I-751, waiver, individual, or stepparent filings | Those who cannot file jointly | Any time before conditional residence expires |
| I-829 | Investment-based conditional residents | Within the 90 days before the second anniversary, which is the date on the card |
The source is the USCIS page on when to file a petition to remove conditions, with the form pages at Form I-751 and Form I-829. The conditional Green Card 90-day calculator counts the window from a card date, and the Green Card calculator hub lists related tools. The background on the two-year card is in the guide to conditional Green Card validity.
Conditional residence basics
Some permanent residents receive a card valid for a limited period, with conditions attached. Marriage-based conditional residents use Form I-751 to remove the conditions, and investment-based conditional residents use Form I-829. The date that matters is the expiration date printed on the card, and USCIS tells filers to check the card to locate it.
The Form I-751 window
For a joint petition, USCIS says the form must be filed during the 90-day period immediately before conditional residence expires. The same page warns that a petition received before the window opens may be rejected and returned as filed too early. The window is therefore a period with a first day and a last day, and filing before the first day carries a risk. USCIS provides a filing date calculator on its page, and that calculator controls. The key habit is to read the date from the card itself and not from memory or from the date the card arrived in the mail, since the card date and the date of approval can differ.
Waiver, individual, and stepparent filings
The timing is different for filers who do not file jointly. USCIS says a waiver, individual, or stepparent filing can be made at any time before conditional residence expires. The 90-day window and the early-rejection warning are described for the joint petition. Which form version and evidence apply to a particular situation is a matter for the form instructions or a licensed attorney.
The Form I-829 window
Investors file within the 90 days before the second anniversary of the grant, which is the date on the card. If the filing is missed, USCIS says conditional status ends and the person becomes removable. A late filing may be excused for good cause and extenuating circumstances, with a written explanation, and that decision is at the discretion of USCIS. The page for Form I-829 does not give an evaluation standard beyond that wording.
If the deadline is missed
The USCIS page says that a person who does not file as required automatically loses conditional permanent resident status. For a late I-751, USCIS requires a request to excuse the late filing and a written explanation showing the delay was for good cause and due to extenuating circumstances. The page does not name a grace period. The pages do not say how an application filed after expiration is treated in other respects, and they do not give processing times. A person in that position should read the current form instructions and consider speaking with a licensed immigration attorney.
What Form I-90 is not for
Conditional residents must not use Form I-90 to remove conditions. USCIS says marriage-based cases use Form I-751 and investment-based cases use Form I-829. Conditional residents file Form I-90 only for a lost, stolen, or damaged card, incorrect information, a name change, or a card that was never received. An expiring conditional card calls for the removal petition, not a replacement. The guide to Green Card expiration and renewal covers the ordinary renewal route.
Illustrative example
Illustrative example. A conditional card shows an expiration date of September 30. Counting back 90 days from September 30 lands on July 2, so a joint I-751 would be filed between about July 2 and September 30. A petition received in June risks being rejected as too early. Because counting conventions can differ by a day, the USCIS filing date calculator should be used to confirm the first day.
Frequently asked questions
Can the joint I-751 be filed any time before expiration?
No. USCIS says the joint petition is filed during the 90 days immediately before expiry, and earlier filing may be rejected.
Can Form I-90 replace an expiring conditional card?
No. USCIS says conditional residents must not use it to remove conditions.
What happens if Form I-829 is not filed on time?
USCIS says conditional status ends and the person becomes removable, unless a late filing is excused for good cause and extenuating circumstances.
Which date starts the count?
The expiration date on the card, according to the USCIS page on when to file.
Related reading
- Conditional Green Card two-year validity
- How permanent resident status can be lost
- Green Card travel and reentry
- Green Card FAQ
About this guide
This website is for information only. It is not affiliated with the U.S. government, does not give legal advice or consultations, and does not offer application services. A personal case belongs with USCIS or a licensed immigration attorney, and the current official pages control.
Last verified: October 2026. Sources: USCIS, when to file a petition to remove conditions; USCIS Form I-751; USCIS Form I-829.