How to renew or replace your green card?

If your green card is about to expire or has already expired, or was lost or stolen, then you need to renew or replace your green card.

You can renew or replace a lost, stolen, or expiring or expired green card by filing Form I-90 Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

However, even if the card is lost, stolen, or expired, you are still a permanent resident of the United States. Simply put, green card expiration, loss, or theft does not affect your permanent resident status. Your green card is simply a document that proves your permanent resident status in the United States.

Nevertheless, it is important to renew or replace your green card as soon as possible if it is expiring or is lost or stolen. This is because a valid green card is necessary to prove your work authorization, legal immigration status, identity, and more.

So, even if you think that renewing or replacing your green card is not a priority because you can continue living in the United States without it, this is not the case. The green card is a valuable document that proves your identity and legal permanent resident status in the United States.

Additionally, all permanent residents over the age of 18 are required to carry a valid green card with them at all times. Also, if you became a green card holder before you turned 14 years old, you are required to replace your card when you become 14 years old.

If your green card is about to expire or has already expired, or was lost or stolen, it is important to renew or replace it as soon as possible. You can renew or replace your green card by filing Form I-90 with USCIS and following the procedures:

• Replace your lost, stolen or destroyed green card. If your green card has been lost, stolen, or destroyed, you need to file I-90 form together with USCIS filing fee and a biometrics fee and a copy of your original green card or a government-issued ID such as a passport, driver’s license, or military identification document.
• Replace a green card that was never received. If your green card was never received, you must file form I-90 with a copy of a government-issued ID such as a passport, driver’s license, or military identification document. With your I-90 application you must also provide a copy of your Form I-797, Notice of Action, for the form that should have resulted in the issuance of your Green Card, or a copy of the page in your passport showing the I-551 stamp you received upon admission if you were admitted as an immigrant. You do not need to pay the USCIS filing fee and biometrics fee.
• Replace your mutilated green card. If your green card has been mutilated, file form I-90 form with USCIS filing fee and a biometrics fee and a copy of your original green card or a government-issued ID such as a passport, driver’s license, or military identification document.
• Correct green card with incorrect information due to government error. If your green card was issued with incorrect information because of a DHS or USCIS error, file form I-90 form with a copy of your existing card with incorrect data and a copy of a government-issued ID such as a passport, driver’s license, or military identification document. You do not need to pay the USCIS filing fee and a biometrics fee.
• Replace your green card if your name or other biographic information has legally changed. If you need a new green card because you have changed your name or other biographic information, you must file form I-90 together with legal documents showing the name change or new biographical data, a USCIS filing fee and a biometrics fee and a copy of a government-issued ID like a passport, driver’s license, or military identification document.
• Renew your expired or expiring green card. If your green card is expiring within six months, you can file form I-90 together with the expired or expiring green card, USCIS filing fee, and a biometrics fee.
• Replace your green card if you turn 14. If you became a green card holder before turning 14, then you must replace your green card when you become 14 years old. To replace your green card, you must submit Form I-90 and fingerprints within 30 days after you reach 14 years of age. If you turn 14 and the existing card will expire before your 16th birthday, then you should submit a copy of your current green card and include a USCIS filing fee and a biometrics fee.

Can you renew or replace your green card online?

Yes, you or your attorney or legal representative can file your I-90 form online to renew or replace your green card. The form can be filed online on USCIS website or by mail (paper). The USCIS filing fee for I-90 form is $455 and biometrics fee is $85.

Filing your I-90 form online has several advantages including:

• Pay the USCIS filing fee online
• Obtain Form I-797 Receipt Notice with receipt number immediately
• Receive notifications and case updates online
• Check the status of your case online

How long does it take to renew or replace your green card?

The processing time to renew or replace your green card takes 1 to 4 months.  

When can you file to renew or replace your green card?

You should renew or replace your green card when:

• You were issued a card valid for 10 years that has expired or will expire within the next 6 months
• Your previous card was lost, stolen, mutilated, or destroyed
• Your green card contains incorrect information
• You have legally changed your name or other biographic information since your card was issued
• You never received the green card issued to you
• You received your green card before you were 14 and you have turned 14 and your card expires (unless your card expires before your 16th birthday)
• You have a previous version of the green card
• You have been a commuter and are now taking up actual residence in the United States
• You have been a permanent resident residing in the United States and are now taking up commuter status
• Your status was automatically converted to permanent resident status (this includes special agricultural worker applicants who converted to permanent resident status)

You can also replace your conditional green card valid for two years as long as your card has not expired and is not set to expire within 90 days. You can replace a conditional green card when:

• Your conditional green card was lost, stolen, mutilated or destroyed
• Your conditional card contains incorrect information
• You legally changed your name or other biographic information since the card was issued
• You never received the conditional green card  

If your green card does not have any expiration date on the front, then you have a very old version. Most old versions are no longer valid, and you should apply to renew your green card.

Can you renew your green card before it expires?

Yes, you can renew your 10-year green card six months before the card expires. However, if you filed for US citizenship at least six months prior to the expiration of your green card, then you do not need to apply for a green card renewal on form I-90. If you filed for US citizenship within the six month period preceding the expiration date of your green card, then you must file form I-90 to renew your green card.

Renewing your green card after 10 years

You can renew your green card after 10 years by filing form I-90 together with the required evidence for expired green card. When you file to renew an expired or expiring green card that was valid for 10 years, USCIS automatically extends your permanent resident status for 24 months beyond your card’s expiration date. You can use the I-797 Receipt Notice with your expired green card as evidence of your continued permanent resident status for 24 months. Also, you remain authorized to work and travel for 24 months from the expiration date on the front of your expired green card.

If you no longer have your green card and you need evidence of your permanent resident status while waiting to receive your new card, USCIS may issue you an Alien Documentation, Identification & Telecommunications (ADIT) stamp after you file form I-90.

How long can you go with an expired green card?

You can stay in the United States with an expired green card that was issued for 10 years for as long as you want, but it will eventually become difficult to live a normal life if you do not renew or replace it.

Without a valid green card, it is going to become difficult for you to prove that you are a permanent resident, and this could also affect your ability to travel outside the United States, prove your eligibility to work in the United States, apply for certain government benefits such as Social Security and Medicare, Small Business Loan Programs and Grants, rent an apartment or buy a house, and more.   

For example, upon presenting an expired 10-year green card at a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) port of entry following an international trip, you may be advised by CBP officers to renew your green card. If the green card has been expired for more than one year and you have not applied for U.S. citizenship, CBP officers may assess whether you have abandoned your permanent resident status.

Moreover, an expired green card can limit your ability to file for immigration benefits for your spouse and children under 21. So even though you can live in the US with an expired green card for a period of time, you should ultimately decide to apply for US citizenship and renew your green card.

Regardless of how long you can live with an expired green card, you should strive to keep your green card up to date and renew your 10-year green card if it has expired or will expire within the next 6 months.

How to remove conditions on your 2-year green card?

If your conditional green card is expiring within 90 days, then you cannot file form I-90 to renew or replace your conditional green card. Instead, you need to file a petition to remove the conditions of your conditional green card before the card expires. You must file this petition with USCIS within 90 days before your conditional green card expires. If your petition to remove the conditions on your green card is approved, you receive a permanent green card valid for 10 years.

Do not use Form I-90 if you have a 2-year conditional green card and your status is expiring. To remove the conditions on your green card you must:

• File form I-751, Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence if you got your conditional green card based on marriage to a U.S. citizen, or
• File form I-829, Petition by Entrepreneur to Remove Conditions if you received your conditional green card based on approved EB-5 investor visa petition as an investor or entrepreneur.

Once you have filed form I-751 or I-829, USCIS automatically extends your conditional permanent resident status for 48 months beyond your conditional card’s expiration date while such petition is pending. The Form I-797 Receipt Notice for the pending petition serves as proof of your conditional resident status.

Our immigration attorneys can assist

If you need to renew or replace your green card, you can contact our immigration lawyers in Miami, Florida USA to assist you with your green card renewal or replacement or schedule a consultation.

Malescu Law P.A. – Business & Immigration Lawyers