If you’re planning to file Form I-90 to replace your permanent resident card, there’s good news: As of September 10, 2024, the USCIS has automatically extended the validity of all Green Cards to 36 months.
At Berd & Klauss, PLLC, one of our responsibilities as your Green Card lawyer in New York is to share the latest USCIS updates to help you navigate immigration opportunities in the US. We are also here to help you find legal solutions to immigration matters. If your Green Card is about to expire or has expired, we recommend filing Form I-90 properly to renew it so you can qualify for the extended validity. This applies to all lawful permanent residents.
Get 12 more months
Previously, receipt notices for Form I-90 extended Green Card validity for only 24 months. However, the USCIS has recently updated the form to extend this validity to 36 months from the card’s expiration date.
Starting September 10, 2024, the USCIS began issuing updated receipt notices for those with pending Form I-90 applications. You can present this receipt notice along with your expired Green Card to prove your continued lawful permanent resident status and employment authorization.
Benefits of the extension
By extending the renewal validity, the USCIS aims to assist applicants who are facing longer processing times. This allows them to maintain proof of their lawful permanent resident status while waiting for their new Green Cards.
What if you don’t have your Green Card anymore?
If you are waiting for your replacement Green Card but no longer have your Permanent Resident card and require evidence of your lawful permanent resident status, you may schedule an appointment at a USCIS Field Office. Get in touch with the USCIS Contact Center so they can issue an ADIT (Alien Documentation, Identification, and Telecommunications) stamp after you file your Form I-90. If you need further assistance or legal advice on the matter, don’t hesitate to consult our Green Card lawyer in New York.
Things you must know about replacing and renewing your Green Card
Is it time to replace your Green Card?
As a lawful permanent resident, you must replace your Green Card if:
- It will either expire within the next 6 months or has already expired.
- Your previous card was destroyed, stolen, mutilated, or lost.
- You were 14 years old when you received your card and have reached your 14th birthday (unless the card expires before you turn 16).
- You’ve transitioned from commuter status to permanent residency in the US.
- Your status has been automatically converted to permanent resident (e.g., special agricultural worker applicants).
- Your previous alien registration card is no longer valid.
- There’s incorrect information on your Green Card.
- You’ve legally changed your name or other biographical details since receiving the card.
Conditional Permanent Residents
If you’re a Conditional Permanent Resident, you should replace your Green Card if:
- Your card has incorrect information.
- The previous card was mutilated, lost, destroyed, or stolen.
- You never received the supposedly issued card from the USCIS.
- You legally changed your name and other biographical details on your card since you last received it.
How to replace your Green Card
To replace your Green Card, whether you’re a lawful or conditional permanent resident, you must start by filing Form I-90 (Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card|). You can submit this form either by mail or online.
Your Green Card lawyer in New York may recommend filing online for more convenience. Doing so offers more transparency, as you can see when the USCIS receives your application. Moreover, you can communicate directly with the agency and receive online updates about your case. If your application is approved, the USCIS will mail you the new Green Card.
Renew your Green Card
To renew your Permanent Resident Card, use your Form I-90 receipt notice and your expired Green Card to prove your lawful permanent resident status. A Green Card lawyer in New York can advise you on what to say on your application.
Are you outside the US?
If you’re outside the US and your Green Card is set to expire within six months, you must file Form I-90 as soon as you return to the country. This applies if you plan to re-enter the US within a year of your departure and before your current Green Card expires.
Get Green Card advice from an immigration lawyer.
If you need a Green Card lawyer in New York, look no further than our immigration law firm. You may contact Berd & Klauss, PLLC, via email ([email protected]) or phone (212-461-7152) to book your initial consultation.