Everything You Need to Know to Renew a Green Card
We’ve outlined everything you need to know about renewing your green carding including when, how and other frequently asked questions.
If it’s almost time to renew your green card, you may feel overwhelmed. You may remember the hurdles you jumped to gain permanent resident status in the first place.
Din Law Group exclusively practices immigration law and offers clients peace of mind when it’s time to renew a green card.
If you have a green card, you must keep it up to date. Your green card is proof of your immigrant status.
If you let it expire, you could have a tough time proving your right to live, travel, and work within the United States.
We understand many lawful permanent residents want to understand the processes they face in advance, so this guide will cover everything you need to know about renewing a green card.
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When to Renew Green Card
Most permanent resident cards have an expiration date printed on the front. The date will be listed in mm/dd/yy format. Be sure not to confuse the date format. Given that this format is unique to the United States, some people may accidentally read the expiration date incorrectly. Most immigrants from Europe and South America grew up using the dd/mm/yy format. Meanwhile, most immigrants from Asia grew up using the yyyy/mm/dd format.
If your green card has already expired or will expire within six months, you should consult with an immigration attorney as soon as possible to apply for a green card renewal.
Older versions of green cards may not include an expiration date at all. If your green card has no expiration date, you should apply to renew it. Most older versions of green cards are no longer valid.
Using Form I-90 to Renew Green Card
You must file Form I-90, Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card (Green Card) to renew a green card. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) provides this form so that permanent residents can either replace or renew green cards.
If you filled an application in advance to prepare for your renewal process, be sure to check the Edition Date at the bottom of the form. You must use the most current version of Form I-90.
The application must be typed or filled out using black ink. If it is not typed, it must be filled out legibly. All questions must be answered honestly and completely. If one of the questions doesn’t pertain to you, your attorney will write “N/A” in that space. If the question requires a numerical answer such as, “How many children do you have,” and your response is zero, this question still applies to you. You shouldn’t leave it blank or write “N/A” in response to this type of question. Instead, you would respond with the word “none.”
This form asks also about your USCIS online account number. If you filed previous forms online and received a receipt number beginning with IOE, your account number can be found in your account profile online. If you mailed in your previous forms, your online account number may be found at the top of the Account Access Notice sent by USCIS. It is also possible that you don’t have an online account number. Be sure not to confuse your online account number with your alien registration number (A-number). Don’t worry, your immigration attorney will walk you through this.
Your Form I-90 must be signed. USCIS will check for a valid signature. USCIS won’t accept a stamped or typed signature. If the agency determines that the application is missing a signature or that the signature is not valid, your application could be denied.
You must include all supporting documents and evidence including a copy of your expired or expiring permanent resident card. While it may seem simple enough to renew a green card, please remember that immigration forms are rarely simple and USCIS requires all forms to be filled properly, even if you’ve been living in the United States for years.
Who Should Not Submit Form I-90
If your expiration date listed on your green card is not coming up within the next six months, you should not submit Form I-90 yet, but it may be a good time to consult with an attorney to consider your options. If your green card is set to expire down the road, you might consider applying for citizenship through the naturalization process. If that interests you, talk about it with your immigration attorney. USCIS features a Naturalization Eligibility Tool online to see whether you might be eligible to begin the process.
If you were issued a green card with conditions (i.e., you were issued conditional resident status based on your marriage or as an entrepreneur), you can’t simply renew it. In these situations, you must file a petition to remove conditions on a green card rather than renew it.
Green Card Renewal Fees
When it’s time to renew a green card, you must pay a USCIS fee to process the application. USCIS maintains a Fee Schedule online. USCIS fees associated with filing Form I-90 are subject to change. The general filing fees depend on how you choose to file your application. As of August 2024, the paper filing fee is $465 and the online filing is $415, but you should always check the fee schedule to make sure you are paying the proper amount. In some cases, it may be possible to apply for a USCIS fee waiver when filing Form I-90.
USCIS fees are separate from attorney fees. Your attorney can explain legal fees at your free consultation.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Green Card Renewals
If you have conditional permanent resident status, you must apply to have conditions removed from your green card. You should do this in the 90 days prior to your card’s expiration date. If you are a conditional permanent resident, it’s best to prepare ahead of time for this process with an attorney. If you don’t complete this process on time, you may lose your permanent resident status.
If your green card doesn’t show an expiration date, it must be an incredibly old green card. USCIS recommends applying to renew any green card that does not have an expiration date printed on the front, because many of the older green cards are no longer valid. If your green card is missing an expiration date, contact an immigration attorney before proceeding.
When children become permanent residents before turning 14, they must replace their cards as they turn 14. Your attorney will still use Form I-90 to apply for your child’s replacement card, but this is different from renewing a green card.
The processing time to renew green cards depends on the backlog at USCIS. The agency processes applications in the order in which they receive them. While some estimates are as little as 1-2 months for the 10-year green card renewal, USCIS estimates that 80 percent of these renewals are completed within about 2 and a half years, so do not delay. Contact an attorney with experience applying for green card renewals before your renewal window opens, if possible.
When you apply to renew a green card, USCIS will issue you a receipt notice. You can use this receipt notice as evidence of your pending renewal and as proof of your continued status. The receipt will allow you to live, travel, and work in the United States for two years past the expiration date on your green card.
If you have applied to renew your green card and you need to take an international trip, consult an attorney. You may be able to apply for an advance parole document that will allow you reentry after your green card expires but while your renewal application in pending.
Choose Din Law Group When It’s Time to Renew your Permanent Resident Status
Din Law Group focuses exclusively on immigration law. Whether you want peace of mind while renewing your green card or need help on a complex immigration issue, our legal team can help. Contact us today for a free consultation.
