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Renew or Replace My Green Card | USCIS

Overview:

  1. What is a green card?
  2. Why do you need a valid green card at all times?
  3. What are some reasons you may need to renew or replace your green card?
  4. What are the green card renewal requirements?
  5. Green card renewal process
  6. Green card renewal processing time
  7. Can I expedite the green card renewal process?
  8. What documents to submit with the green card renewal application
  9. Green card renewal filing fee
  10. Green card renewal tips and pointers

1. What is a green card?

A green card is provided to you if you become a lawful permanent resident of the United States. A green card is also known as a Lawful Permanent Resident Card, Form I-551, or Alien Registration Receipt Card (ARC Card).

Your green card serves as documentation of your legal permanent resident status in the United States. Your green card also proves your capacity to live and work in the United States indefinitely.

The green card expires after 10 years, and you must apply for a green card renewal.

2. Why do you always need a valid green card?

The immigration laws are particularly severe in terms of a permanent resident’s obligation to hold a valid green card. According to the laws, each lawful permanent resident 18 years of age or older “must at all times carry any certificate of alien registration or alien registration receipt card” which is the green card.

Failure to comply with the requirement is a crime punishable by fines or jail.

As a result, it is critical for permanent residents to always have a valid green card.

3. What are some reasons you may need to renew or replace your green card?

  • Green card has expired or will expire within the next six months
  • The green card has been lost, stolen, or destroyed
  • USCIS awarded you a green card, but you never received it
  • The green card has some damage
  • Due to a USCIS error, the information on the green card is wrong
  • Your name or other information on your green card has changed since it was issued the last time
  • You are turning 14 (when a permanent resident kid turns 14, they must apply for a new green card)
  • You are a permanent resident seeking commuter status (a commuter is a permanent resident who lives in Canada or Mexico and works in the United States)
  • You are a commuter returning to the United States to establish your permanent residency

4. What are the green card renewal requirements?

These are the requirements to renew your green card:

  1. You must be a lawful permanent resident
  2. You must file a form Form I-90 with the required supporting documentation and fees
  3. You must attend a biometrics appointment

5. Green card renewal process

Below are the steps to renew your green card step-by-step:

Step 1 – Identify the reason you are renewing your green card

The first step is to clearly understand why you are applying for your green card renewal before filling out any applications. Have you misplaced your green card? Is it time for your green card to expire? Has your name changed since you received your last green card? The cause for your renewal application will decide your filing costs and the materials you must submit in support of your case.

Step 2 – File the Form I-90 along with the supporting documents and correct filing fee

The following step is to submit Form I-90 to USCIS. The application to Replace a Permanent Resident Card is another name for the I-90 and it can be completed and submitted electronically. Alternatively, the form can also be printed and mailed to USCIS.

Step 3 – Attend Biometrics

Most green card renewal candidates must attend an obligatory biometrics appointment to have their fingerprints taken. You are obliged to do this even if you previously had your biometrics collected.

6. Green card renewal processing time

The processing time will be broken down into 4 segments:

  • Issuance of USCIS receipt notice (1 to 3 weeks from the filing date)

When you apply for a green card renewal or replacement, USCIS will analyze it and send you a receipt notification. The receipt message confirms that USCIS received your application. This receipt message includes your receipt number. You may follow the status of your case using the USCIS Case Status Checker and your receipt number.

  • Issuance of Biometrics Appointment Notice (4-6 weeks from the filing date)

Following the issuing of the receipt notification, USCIS will send you an appointment notice for your biometrics. The biometrics appointment announcement includes information about your biometrics appointment’s location as well as the date of your appointment. The biometrics appointment announcement typically includes information on what to bring to the session. This notice also includes information on how to reschedule your appointment if you are unable to attend as planned.

  • Actual biometrics date (6 to 8 weeks from the filing date)

Your biometrics appointment will be scheduled around two weeks after USCIS provides your appointment notification. Your digital fingerprints will be captured at your biometrics appointment. Keep a close eye on the time and place of your biometrics appointment. It is also critical that you bring the necessary documentation to the appointment (as specified on the appointment notice). You will need a valid photo ID as well as an appointment notification.

  • Issuance of a new green card (6 to 10 months from the filing date)

Following the completion of the biometrics appointment, USCIS will proceed to process your application and subsequently issue the physical green card. If USCIS has issues with a specific area of your application or if you filed incorrectly, the USCIS may seek more documentation (RFE). This might cause a delay in total processing time.

7. Can I expedite the green card renewal process?

Yes, USCIS will accelerate the processing of a green card renewal application under specific situations. USCIS has total discretion over whether or not to accelerate a case, and decisions are made on a case-by-case basis. If USCIS expedites your case, you will receive your receipt notification, biometrics notice, biometrics appointment, and new green card significantly faster than usual processing periods.

Here are some reasons USCIS will expedite a case:

  • Emergencies
  • Severe financial loss to the company or person
  • Humanitarian reasons
  • USCIS error
  • Compelling USCIS interest

8. What documents to submit with the green card renewal application

The precise documentation you must provide with your green card renewal application may vary depending on your situation. If you are unsure about which papers to submit, seek advice from an immigration lawyer. Submitting incorrect paperwork or neglecting to submit relevant documentation might cause your case to be delayed or even denied.

Here are some general pointers to help you determine which documents to submit with your case:

Current Green Card

  • In most situations, you must send a copy of the front and back of your current green card.
  • If you are asking for a green card replacement because the information on your existing green card is wrong due to a USCIS error, you must provide the original green card with your application. A duplicate of the card will not be enough.
  • If your green card was lost or stolen and you do not have a duplicate, you may be able to submit a copy of another government-issued form of identification, such as a driver’s license or the identity page of your passport.

Evidence of changed information

  • If you are applying for a new green card because the information on your current green card is inaccurate (for example, if you got married and changed your name), you must send copies of the necessary legal documents to reflect the name change.
  • The following are some examples of acceptable documents:
    • Marriage certificate
    • Divorce certificate
    • Adoption decree
    • Court-issued papers demonstrating that your name was changed

9. Green card renewal filing fee

There are generally 2 fees associated with renewing your green card:

  • Form I-90 filing fee: $455
  • Biometric services fee: $85

Please keep in mind that there are certain circumstances in which an applicant is not needed to pay one or both of the following fees. You should double-check the I-90 guidelines to ensure that you are paying the correct amount. If you make a mistake and do not make the required payment, your application will be rejected.

Here are some general pointers:

Situations where both the I-90 filing fee and the biometric service fee are required:

  • The previous green card was misplaced, stolen, or destroyed
  • Existing green cards have expired or will expire within the next six months
  • Since your last green card was granted, your name or other biographic information has changed
  • You are 14 years old, and your current green card will expire before you turn 16
  • You are a permanent resident with commuter status, or you are a commuter with real residence in the United States

Situations where the biometric service fee is required but the I-90 filing fee is not required:

  • You are 14 years old, and your current green card will expire on your 16th birthday

Situations where neither the biometric service fee nor the I-90 filing fee is required:

  • Your prior green card was issued, but you never received it (returned to USCIS as undeliverable)
  • Because of a Department of Homeland Security error, existing green cards have inaccurate data

10. Green card renewal tips and pointers

Follow Instructions

This is an obvious tip, but I want to underline it in this part. Immigration paperwork must be meticulously prepared. You should double-check your evidence and costs. You should also double-check that you have completed the I-90 accurately. Failure to follow instructions or wrongly filling out the I-90 might result in a delay or denial of your application.

Have you been arrested or had trouble with the law?

If you’ve been arrested in the past, even if you weren’t convicted, it can have major consequences for your status as a lawful permanent resident. Even if the arrest was not previously a problem, it may become one as a result of filing for green card renewal. If this applies to you, consult with an immigration lawyer before filing your application.