Is your green card expired or expiring in the next six months? If you have an expired or expiring green card, you don’t have to panic. Unless you committed a crime that will make you deportable or you’re travelling outside the country, your lawful permanent residence status remains valid. You just need to follow the steps to renew your green card to ensure that you have the latest version issued by the U.S. government.
Your green card, also called a lawful permanent resident card, is a document that proves your legal status as an immigrant in the United States. It is valid for 10 years from issuance.
A valid green card will allow you to legally work and live in the United States. You can return from an overseas trip without issue if you have an unexpired green card. The peace of mind you will have with a valid green card makes it crucial to renew your green card as soon as possible.
With the ever-evolving immigration policies in the United States, making sure that your documents are always valid can make a big difference if you ever get in trouble. If you are a U.S. immigrant, make sure that you always have an immigration lawyer’s contact number.
There are four essential steps to renew your green card.
First, you must file your renewal form with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) either online or by mail. This is the Form I-90, Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card.
If submitting online: Create an online account with the USCIS and complete the Form I-90.
If submitting by mail: Complete the hard copy (paper form) of the Form I-90.
We advise against applying for renewal earlier than six months before your green card expiration. The USCIS might deny your application without giving you a refund.
Be ready with your requirements, such as your expired or expiring green card, which you will need to upload if you are applying online. If you are doing it by mail, you’ll need to photocopy your evidence.
Depending on your method of renewal, you may pay the fees as follows:
If you file online: After you complete your Form I-90 online, you’ll be directed to a page on the pay.gov website, allowing you to pay electronically using a valid credit card.
If you file by mail: The American Government accepts money order, personal check, or cashier’s check. Indicate “U.S. Department of Homeland Security” (do not abbreviate). If you want to use a credit card, you can use Form G-1450, the Authorization for Credit Card Transactions.
Review your application before signing it. If you apply online, you will be prompted to sign digitally.
Once you submit your application, within one to two weeks you will receive a notification from USCIS informing you of your biometrics appointment. Sometimes, USCIS will also inform you that you need to submit further documents.
Once USCIS receives your renewal form, it takes between 1.5 and 12 months for the application to be processed. This may sound like a long wait, so if you need your green card sooner, you may ask USCIS to provide you with an Alien Documentation, Identification & Telecommunications (ADIT) stamp. The ADIT stamp may be provided if you need to prove you’re a lawful permanent resident of the U.S.
You can check the current processing times for green card renewal on this USCIS page. At Jorge Munoz Law Firm, we can help contact the USCIS Contact Center on your behalf.
It is generally not possible to renew green card while abroad. If your green card is expiring in the next six months, but you will be back in the United States within the next 12 months from departure, file your green card renewal as soon as you arrive.
If your green card has already expired and you have no pending application for renewal, your best bet is to contact the U.S. Embassy or Port of Entry nearest to you and let them know your situation. If you are having a hard time, you may call our team, and we can discuss your options.
At Jorge Munoz Law Firm, we assist clients who are looking to replace or renew their green card. With compassion, dedication, and comprehensive knowledge of U.S. immigration laws and procedures, our experienced team, with immigration lawyer Jorge Enrique Munoz at the helm, is ready to guide you all the way.
With guidance from an experienced firm like ours, you can minimize errors or mistakes and avoid delay or additional expenses. Contact Jorge Munoz Law Firm today to set an appointment.
