You’ve just been granted permanent residence and received your green card in the mail. But, upon closer inspection, you noticed that there is a misspelling in your name! Or, you’ve just received your work permit and although it has your correct name, your date of birth is incorrect! Don’t worry, it’s not the end of the world. This is a common scenario and we’ve outlined below the steps to take so you can move forward with your life in the United States with a green card, work permit or other immigration document containing the correct information.

Is the mistake on your immigration document due to USCIS error?

If so, the good news is that there is no fee if the request for correction is due to USCIS error. Follow the steps outlined below depending on the document that you would like changed.

There is an error on my work permit or employment authorization document (EAD). What should I do?

If your request does not require you to submit evidence (for example, the error is a clear typographical error), you may submit a service request via the USCIS website. Explain the error and include the correct information. Select the “EAD Replacement due to USCIS Error” option when submitting your request. You must also return the card containing the error to the address below. It is important to note that you must use the United States Postal Service (USPS) when returning your card. Retain your tracking information to ensure your card was properly delivered. The use of other carriers (such as UPS, FedEx, or DHL) is not available for this address.

USCIS
Lee’s Summit Production Facility
Attn: I-765 Replacement Cards
7 Product Way
Lee’s Summit, MO 64002

It will take approximately 30 days from the date the card is received for USCIS to process your request and, if it is determined that USCIS made an error, they will issue you a new card. This processing time frame does not account for USPS mailing/processing, so allow for that extra time.

If USCIS finds during the processing of your request that the error was not due to USCIS error, you will be notified that you must follow the procedure for when a correction is needed and not due to USCIS error.

On the other hand, if your request requires you to submit evidence to demonstrate the error and necessary correction (for example, the error relates to your birthdate), or if you would like to use the existing mail-in process, you may submit a letter explaining the error and corresponding evidence, along with the card containing the error, to the address above.

There is an error on my Green Card/legal permanent residence card. What should I do?

If there is an error on your Green Card, submit the following to USCIS:

• Form I-90;

• The Green Card containing the error; and

• Supporting documentation to show what the correct information should be.

There is an error on my Travel Document/Advance Parole Document. What should I do?

If there is an error on your Travel Document (Such as an Advance Parole Document, Reentry Permit, or Refugee Travel Document), submit to the USCIS office that approved your travel document (as listed on your approval notice):

• The travel document containing the error;

• A letter explaining the error; and

• Supporting documentation to show what the correct information should be.

There is an error on my Naturalization/Citizenship Certificate. What should I do?

Your naturalization certificate is proof of your U.S. citizenship. If there is an error on this important document, submit the following to USCIS:

• Form N-565 (complete Part 4 to explain the error);

• The naturalization or citizenship certificate containing the error; and

• Supporting documentation to show what the correct information should be.

How do I correct errors on my Form I-94, Arrival/Departure Record?

If you’ve noticed an error on your Form I-94, Arrival/Departure Record (or Nonimmigrant Visa Waiver Arrival/Departure Record and Crewman’s Landing Permit), you should take immediate action to correct it as it could have implications for your status here in the United States. You can go to the CBP Website to check your I-94 and Travel History. We highly recommend checking this frequently, particularly when you’ve just returned from an overseas trip to make sure that there are no errors.

If you entered a port of entry such as an airport or a land crossing, go to the nearest CBP port of entry or deferred inspection office to correct the document. Bring the relevant documentation such as your ticket/itinerary to show the correct date if there is a date error, for example.

If a USCIS asylum office issued your Form I-94, contact the asylum office with jurisdiction over your current residence to obtain a corrected Form I-94.

If you received an ADIT stamp (temporary evidence of LPR status) on a Form I-94 that contains an error, call the USCIS Contact Center at 800-375-5283 (TTY: 800-767-1833) to obtain a corrected Form I-94. 

If USCIS otherwise issued your Form I-94, submit the following to USCIS:

• Form I-102;

• The Arrival/Departure Record containing the error;

• A copy of a government-issued ID verifying your legal name and date of birth; and

• Supporting documentation to show what the correct information should be (if required).

My personal information has changed and I would like to update my USCIS-issued document. How do I do this?

Has your personal information changed (such as your name, gender, or both) and you want to update your USCIS-issued document to reflect these changes? Follow the steps below:

• If you are scheduled for an interview with USCIS, you may update your information at the time of your interview. Make sure you bring relevant supporting documentation.

• If you receive a Request for Evidence (RFE) asking for updated information, follow the instructions in the notice you received.

• If you would like to update the name reflected on your document, you must provide sufficient evidence of your name change, such as a court order, marriage certificate, divorce decree, or other vital document record.

• As of March 31, 2023, you do not need to provide supporting evidence to change the gender listed on your immigration documents, with a limited exception. If you want to update your gender information on a Certificate of Naturalization or Certificate of Citizenship, you must still provide the required supporting documentation of the change, as listed in the Form N-565, Application for Replacement Naturalization/Citizenship Document instructions (PDF, 257.24 KB).

Click here for more information on how to request a biographic change on a specific document.

The immigration process is not easy, fast or simple. Now that you’ve received your immigration document, it is important to have the correct documents in your possession as it is proof of your legal status in the United States and a testament to your hard work, struggles and sacrifices that you (and your family) likely have gone through to get to where you are now.

If you need assistance in applying for permanent residency, naturalization or nonimmigrant visa, please contact us for a consultation. We are here to help. We have over a decade of experience assisting individuals and families reach their American Dream. Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Tumblr, for up-to-date immigration news.

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Torregoza Legal PLLC is the law firm for immigrants, by immigrants. We are founded on the motto of LegalEase: we do away with the legal jargon and make law easy to understand, so you can focus on what’s important to you – going for your American Dream.
Contact us at (888) 445-7066 or info@legalease.us. We are also on social media and on Skype: @LegalEaseUS. || www.LegalEase.us
This website and blog constitute attorney advertising. Do not consider anything on this website or blog legal advice as the law is dynamic, particularly in the immigration field and nothing in this website constitutes an attorney-client relationship being formed. Set up a one-hour consultation with us before acting on anything you read here. Past results are no guarantee of future results and prior results do not imply or predict future results. Each case is different and must be judged on its own merits.