Renew Your Expiring Green Card

A green card is issued to a foreign national to prove that they are a lawful permanent resident of the U.S., authorized to be employed and live in the U.S. on a permanent basis. A green card for a Permanent Resident is valid for 10 years and a green card for a Conditional Permanent Resident is valid for 2 years. It is important to renew your green card before it expires because an expired green card may make it difficult to travel internationally or prove your eligibility for employment in the U.S. The USCIS processing time for green card renewal is typically about 3-5 months, but sometimes can take even longer.

Steps

Applying as a Permanent Resident

1. Choose the right time to apply. As a Permanent Resident, your green card will last you 10 years. You are eligible to apply for green card renewal within 6 months of the expiration date listed on your card. You cannot apply more than 6 months in advance, but you can apply after the expiration date (although this is not ideal).
   • If your green card has already expired, you should start the application immediately.
   • If you have an older version of a green card without an expiration date, it is most likely no longer valid. You should apply for a replacement immediately using the same process.
2. Submit a Form I-90. Form I-90 is the Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card and can be filed either online or on paper. More information can be found at the USCIS government website at http://www.uscis.gov.
   • To file the application online, go to http://www.uscis.gov/efiling and follow the instructions provided. You must have Adobe installed on your computer to view and fill out the forms. Make sure you read through all the instructions carefully and input accurate, up-to-date information.
   • Sign the application correctly. USCIS will not accept a stamped or typewritten name as a signature. If you are filling out the application online, you can sign in an electronic format on your computer.
   • Upload evidence documents. There is a section in the Form I-90 titled "Required Evidence," which will include the instructions for what documents to attach to your application. Mail them to the USCIS office, even if you have filled out the rest of your application online.
3. Pay the application fee. The instructions to pay the application fee can be found on the Form I-90. You must pay either with a valid credit or debit card or provide your bank routing and checking account numbers to have money taken directly from your U.S. bank account. The total fee for renewing your green card is $450, which includes a $365 Form I-90 filing fee and an $85 biometric services fee.
   • If you can clearly demonstrate that you are unable to pay the filing fees to renew your green card, you can file a Form I-912, Request for Fee Waiver. You can check the USCIS website to see if you are eligible for a fee waiver. You must file this waiver, as well as the Form I-90, by paper only (not electronically).
4. Create a USCIS online account to track and manage your case online. This is optional, but it is helpful to create an account to continually check the status of your case, receive notifications and case updates, respond to requests for evidence, and manage your contact information.
   • You can create an account regardless of if you submit the Form I-90 application online or by paper.
   • If you submit a paper Form I-90 application, you will receive a USCIS Account Acceptance Notice in the mail with instructions on how to create an online account.
   • If you choose not to access your USCIS online account, USCIS will still continue processing your application and you will receive notifications and updates about it by mail through the U.S. Postal Service.
5. Be ready in case you are requested for a biometrics services appointment. After USCIS receives your application and ensures it is complete, they will inform you by mail or send you a notification through USCIS online account within 3-5 weeks if you need to attend a biometric services appointment.
   • A biometrics services appointment may be required if the USCIS needs to verify your identity, obtain additional information, or conduct security or background checks before making a decision on your application.
   • The appointment notice will give you the location of your local or designated USCIS Application Support Center (ASC) and the date and time of your appointment. If you cannot make the date and time of your appointment, you can make a request to be rescheduled by following instructions on the appointment notice.
   • The appointment should only take about 20 minutes and you will likely need to provide fingerprints, take a photograph, and sign your name for electronic capture.
   • You will likely attend your biometrics appointment 5-8 weeks after filing your Form I-90. If you do not show up to your biometric services appointment, USCIS may deny your application.
6. Receive your renewed green card. After your application is approved, you will receive a new green card (valid for 10 years) through the mail.
   • For up-to-date information about how long your renewal application will take to process, visit https://egov.uscis.gov/cris/processTimesDisplay.do.

Applying as a Conditional Permanent Resident

1. Choose the right time to apply. As a Conditional Permanent Resident who obtained your status through marriage or entrepreneurship, your green card will last you 2 years. You are eligible to apply for a Permanent Resident green card within 90 days of the 2-year expiration date.
2. Fill out one of two petition forms according to your condition. Do not use Form I-90. If you are a permanent resident who was granted conditional permanent resident status, you need to file a petition to remove those conditions.
   • If your conditional status was based on a marriage, file Form I-751, Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence.
   • If your conditional status was based on being an investor or entrepreneur, file Form I-829, Petition by Entrepreneur to Remove Conditions on Permanent Resident Status.
   • Filing instructions and forms are available on the USCIS web site at www.uscis.gov.
   • If you do not file the petition to remove the conditions before your card expires, you may lose your permanent resident status.
3. Receive your new green card in the mail. Once your petition is approved, you will receive a new green card as a Permanent Resident, valid for 10 years. After that point, the typical renewal process (using Form I-90) should be used.

Applying for Citizenship

1. Determine if you are eligible to Apply for Citizenship (USA). If your green card is about to expire (or has expired) and you meet the necessary requirements, it might be a better idea to apply for permanent citizenship rather than renewing your green card again. This will save you a lot of time and money in the long run (renewing a green card every 10 years is expensive!) and provide you with many benefits such as the right to vote and travel with a U.S. passport.
   • You must have lived in the U.S. as a lawful permanent resident for 5 consecutive years before you can apply for citizenship. Check the issue date on your green card, next to where it says "Resident Since." You can become a citizen exactly 5 years (to the day) after this date.
   • You must have lived in the same place for at least 3 months before applying for citizenship.
   • You must also meet other requirements, such as knowing how to speak, read, and write basic English, having an understanding of U.S. history and the constitution, and having good moral character.
   • Even if your green card has just expired, you still retain your official status as a permanent resident. Therefore, as long as you fulfill the requirements, you can still apply for a citizenship with an expired green card. That said, try to do it as soon as possible!
2. Choose the right time to apply. You can begin the application process for naturalization 90 days before your 5 year anniversary of being a lawful permanent resident, or anytime thereafter.
3. Fill out the N-400 form. This is the Application for Naturalization and can be found at http://www.uscis.gov under "Forms." Make sure all the information you provide is accurate and complete.
4. Include all required attachments. These are all outlined in the N-400 form. The documents serve as evidence that you meet all the requirements to become a citizen and have good moral character.
   • Attach two identical passport photos and a photocopy of your green card.
   • Include the naturalization fee. The fee consists of a filing fee of $595 and a biometrics services fee of $85 for a total of $680. This can be paid either by check, mail order, or credit card.
   • When your N-400 form is filled out and you have prepared all of these attachments, you can send your application to your local USCIS office.
5. Go to all the necessary appointments and interviews. After you submit your N-400 form, you may be summoned to a biometrics appointment for any necessary fingerprints and signatures. All applicants are required to attend an interview, where you will be tested on your English reading, writing, and speaking skills as well as your understanding of U.S. civics.
   • You have two opportunities (per application) to take these two tests. If you fail the first time around, you can retake the tests between 60 and 90 days from your initial interview.
6. Receive a decision letter and become a citizen. The whole process can take up to 6 months, and sometimes even longer.
   • After you receive confirmation of your citizenship, you will attend a ceremony to take an Oath of Allegiance to the U.S (pledging your loyalty your country). There, you will also exchange your green card for a Certificate of Naturalization.

Tips

• Know that your permanent resident status will not expire even if your green card expires; your green card is merely a piece of evidence for your status. However, as a lawful permanent resident, you should always possess a valid green card to be able to prove your legal status in the U.S. Though you will not be penalized for having an expired green card, it can cause difficulties in acquiring employment, buying a home, and accessing other benefits.

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