Green Card Renewal

Green Card Renewal is necessary in the subsequent cases:

1. If Green Card has expired

2. If Green Card is about to expire within 6 months

3. If the Green Card is an older version

4. If the Green Card is mutilated, destroyed, broken, burnt, or becomes illegible

5. If one has lately altered one’s name owing to marriage or any other reason, one need to ask for an efficient Green Card with the fresh name.

6. Green Card Not Received: Sometimes one may not take delivery of a Green Card even after approval.

7. To remove "Conditional Residence" clause

Cards issued since 1989 have an expiration date on the face of the card so as to point to 10-year legality. If you were issued your Green Card about 10 years ago and the card has an expiration date on it, you are believed to check the expiration date to see when your card needs to be changed.

Process to renew:

Within six months of expiration, one must fill a Form I-90 "Application to substitute a Permanent Resident Card", which one can also get hold of by calling 1-800-870-3676, or by submitting an online request to receive forms by mail. If you live in New York, Newark, Chicago, San Francisco, Houston, San Antonio, or El Paso, you may be able to apply by mail although you will still sooner or later need to visit an USCIS office. In all other locations, you ought to submit your application in self to your nearest USCIS District office or Sub Office.

If you are applying in person for renewing, bring your completed Form I-90, along with the applicable filing fee, two photographs as specified in the Form I-90 instructions, and your expiring Green Card. To obtain provisional proof of your position while your new card is processed also be certain to bring your passport, if you have one or bring one additional photograph so that a provisional document a stamped Form I-94 with photograph can be formed and issued to you right away.

It may take 10-12 months to take delivery of your new permanent green card so it is better in most cases you apply well ahead in time.

One will not lose permanent resident status if one does not renew Green Card–one’s permanent resident status will not expire or change. However, you are obligated by law to carry evidence of your status/registration and it will be complicated to obtain employment, benefits and re-entry into the United States from abroad without renewal.

Green card renewal for your permanent resident status is quite important to enjoy the privilege to work and live in the USA continuously. The green card is also called as the I-551 form.

The law governing the green card possession states that every foreign national will be issued with a green card as a mark of recognition to live and work in the USA. Any green card holder who is above 18 years of age is required to carry proof of green card all the time with him and are supposed to produce the green card for identity as requested for any official referral or bank proceedings or any needs that needs a green card holding. However, green cards that have expired will not always be accepted as resident proofs.

The Code of Federal Regulations strictly stresses the need for green card renewal as outlined by the USCIS:-

Green card renewal is stressed in events when the card is nearing the expiry date.

Green card renewal is important in cases where a minor green card was issued for the below 14 category and it should be updated or renewed if the minor has crossed the age limit for the card issued.

In events you hold a conditional resident green card status green card renewal is still necessary but the process varies from unconditional residents.

Conditional green card renewal should be followed by the filing of I-751 requesting to remove the conditions on the prevailing green card and to issue an unconditional green card after green card renewal application submission.

If you are an unconditional green card holder you need to file form I-90 for green card renewal.

In some events the application for green card renewal may be denied. The embassy will provide a detailed reason for why your green card renewal has been denied. You are not entitled to appeal in county courts in such stances; however you can forward a request for renewal and to reopen to consider you green card renewal request.

By filing for reopening you are requesting the USCIS to reconsider the green card renewal; however reconsider request should be based on denials that are not specifically mentioned in the law with appropriate documentation for green card renewal any further. You can approach an attorney for clarifications on such and make sure that your request is worth the time and money in order to avail reconsideration of renewal.