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You will not
lose your legal status in the United States because your card expires–your
lawful permanent resident status will not expire or change. However,
you will need to renew your expiring Green Card in order to maintain
evidence of your permanent resident status and avoid possible difficulties
in obtaining employment, benefits and re-entry into the United States
after traveling abroad.
You may apply
up to six months before the expiration date of your card. However,
there is no need to rush for a new card too far in advance since
you will immediately be issued temporary proof of your status at
your
local U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) office. A
temporary stamp will be placed in your passport or–if you do
not have a passport–a temporary document with photograph will
be issued. Temporary proof of status will be valid for one year,
and you should receive your new green card in 10-12 months. You
should only need to visit the USCIS office once if your application
is complete and correct.
To renew your
Green Card, you should complete a Form
I-90 "Application to Replace a Permanent Resident Card", which
you can also obtain 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 eventually need to visit an USCIS office).
In all other locations, you should submit your application in person.
If you are applying
in person, bring your completed Form I-90, a $110 filing fee, two
photographs (as specified in the Form I-90 instructions), and your
expiring Green Card. To obtain temporary proof of your status (while
your new card is processed) also be sure to bring your passport,
if you have one -- or bring one additional photograph so that a
temporary document (a stamped Form I-94 with photograph) can be
created and issued to you immediately. (Remember: it may take 10-12
months to receive your new permanent green card).
NOTE:
If you present an expired passport the USCIS will stamp it;
however, it will not be acceptable for employment verification purposes.
You may present to your employer an unexpired stamped passport
or Form I-94 with photograph, or any of the other documents listed
on the Form
I-9 (Employment Eligibility Verification Form).
If you require temporary documentation for employment purposes,
be sure to inform the USCIS officer of this fact.
HELP!
- Or, call
the national USCIS toll-free information service at 1-800-375-5283.
Applying
by Mail Mail-in
application procedures should be available in New York, Newark,
Chicago, San Francisco, Houston, San Antonio, and El Paso. If you
live in one of these areas, contact your local
USCIS office for specific mail-in instructions. You should be
able to mail your completed Form I-90, the $110 filing fee, a front-and-back
photocopy of your expiring Green Card, and two photographs
(as specified in the Form I-90 instructions). Do not mail
your expiring Green Card. After they receive your application,
the USCIS
will schedule an office appointment with you so you can bring your
expiring Green Card in person and receive your temporary proof of
status.
The information
provided in this website is not legal advice and should not be interpreted
as legal advice. This website is intended to provide a basic understanding
of this information in summary form. This information may not be
comprehensive, is subject to change, and may not apply to all individual
circumstances. Any information received here should be confirmed
with the appropriate government agencies or with an attorney, particularly
as it relates to your individual circumstances. Your use of this
website indicates your agreement to be bound by our Terms
of Use.
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