How to Renew an Expired Green Card
This article provides information on Green Card renewal and related issues.
Having a U.S. Green Card (officially known as a Permanent Resident Card) allows you to live and work permanently in the United States.
U.S. Green Card holders enjoy many other benefits, including the option to become an American citizen after living in the USA 5 years and meeting other criteria.
Green Cards normally have an expiration date, usually 2 years or 10 years after they are issued, and must be renewed.
So, what do you have to do to renew your Green Card? How long before expiration do you have to renew it?
This article will help you answer all the essential questions regarding Green Card renewal.
Table of Contents
What is a Green Card?
A Green Card is officially called a United States Permanent Resident Card and it is a plastic identification card carried by an immigrant to show that he or she is a U.S. permanent resident.
If you are approved for U.S. immigration through the Diversity Visa Program, the U.S. State Department will place a Diversity Immigrant Visa on a page of your passport to allow you to enter the United States as a new immigrant, but you will also need to pay the online Immigrant Fee to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) so your Permanent Resident Green Card can be mailed to you in the USA.
Green Card holders can receive many benefits including:
- Living in the U.S. for an unlimited amount of time in any of the 50 states
- Working in the U.S. legally
- Access to quality education programs in the United States
- Having the opportunity to buy a home in the USA
- The option to start your own business in the U.S.
- Sponsoring eligible family members for U.S. immigration
- Applying to become an American citizen after living in the U.S. 5 years
Types of Green Cards?
Approximately one million U.S. Green Cards are issues every year by the USCIS, with about half being granted to new immigrants moving to America from outside of the United States and the other half being issued to temporary legal residents already living in the USA. (Changing from temporary resident to permanent resident is called “adjustment of status”.)
There are several pathways to receive a U.S. Green Card such as:
- Diversity Immigrant Visa Program
- Employment-Based Green Card
- Family Member of an American Citizen
- Family Member of a U.S. Permanent Resident
- Special Immigrant Green Card
- Green Card via Asylum or Refugee Status
A U.S. Green Card is usually issued for 10 years and must be renewed; however, conditional permanent residents receive a Green Card that is valid for 2 years and also must be renewed.
How much is the Green Card renewal fee?
The Green Card renewal fee is $495 USD plus you must pay the $85 biometrics fee. The biometrics processing fee pays for a new digital photo and scanning of your fingerprints and signature for your new Green Card.
When to renew your Green Card
You should start the Green Card renewal process about 6 months before your Green Card expires.
If you have a conditional Green Card that is issued for 2 years, you can file a petition (Form I-829 if conditions are based on investment or Form I-751 if conditions are based on marriage) 90 days before it expires, requesting removal of the conditions on your Green Card and asking to renew your Green Card for 10 years.
How to renew your Green Card
In order to renew your Green Card, start by opening an online account with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS).
Then, fill out and digitally sign the Form I-90 and upload any supporting documents that may be requested.
If you want to renew a conditional Green Card, do not file the Form I-90, but rather file the Form I-829 if conditions are based on investment or Form I-751 if conditions are based on marriage.
Make sure that you read the instructions before you complete the relevant Green Card renewal petition form.
Next, pay the fees to renew your Green Card (for example, the $495 USD application processing fee and $85 USD biometrics fee).
Now, click to submit the completed application to renew your Green Card.
You should receive a receipt confirming that USCIS received your application to renew your Green Card.
The USCIS may also send with the receipt a notice stating that your Green Card validity date has been extended 24 months past the expiration date.
Finally, you simply monitor your USCIS online account for any updates or messages and wait for the new Green Card to be sent to you.
Note: It is also possible to send via the mail the relevant paper petition (Form I-90, Form I-751 or Form I-829, depending on your situation) requesting to renew your Green Card and to include a cashier’s check, money order or personal check to pay the governmental fees.
Documents needed to renew your Green Card
In order to renew your Green Card, you will generally need to complete the Form I-90.
If you need to renew your Green Card that was issued for 2 years (conditional), then you would not file the Form I-90, but will instead need to file the Form I-829 if conditions are based on investment or Form I-751 if conditions are based on marriage.
You might be asked to provide a copy of your current or expired Green Card or receive another “request for evidence” (i.e., supporting documents).
What happens after you submit your Green Card renewal application?
After you submit your Green Card renewal application online, you should receive a receipt confirming that USCIS received your application.
The USCIS may also send with the receipt a notice stating that your Green Card validity date has been extended 24 months past the expiration date.
Be sure to keep this receipt in a safe place, in case you need to show that you still have a valid Green Card in the event that you have not received your new Green Card to replace your expired Green Card.
You will also receive a notice in a couple weeks about a biometric services appointment, so you can provide an updated photo, your fingerprints and signature for your new Green Card.
In some cases, a notice will be sent requesting an interview (for example, if USCIS wants in-person clarification about something).
A notice will be sent to you by USCIS regarding its decision.
After your new Green Card has been approved, it will be sent to your address.
What to do if your renewal application is denied
There are some situations in which the request to renew your Green Card could be denied such as if you:
- Filed the wrong form
- Lied on your form
- Failed to pay your taxes
- Broke the law
In the event that the request to renew your Green Card is denied, USCIS will send you a notice informing you and explaining the reason(s) for this decision.
You can file an appeal of the denial decision and may want to consider retaining a lawyer to assist you in this process which initially takes about 45 days and is normally completed in 6 months or less.
How many times can you renew or replace your Green Card?
You can renew your Green Card an unlimited number of times, as long as you continue to maintain your status as a Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR) of the United States.
Since a U.S. Green Card is usually valid for 10 years, you will not renew your Green Card many times during your life.
Keep in mind that a U.S. permanent resident has the option (it is not mandatory) to apply to become an American citizen through the naturalization process after living in the USA with a Green Card for 5 years and satisfying other criteria.
If you choose to become an American citizen, you do not need to do anything to “renew” your U.S. citizenship which you will possess for the rest of your life. (If you get an American passport, however, you will need to renew it every 10 years.)
Conclusion
Being a U.S. Green Card holder provides immigrants with many benefits, including permission to live and work in the USA for an unlimited period of time and the option to become an American citizen – among many others!
In most cases, a United States Permanent Resident Green Card is valid for 10 years, which is a long time, but you must occasionally go through a relatively simple process to renew your Green Card.
Having to renew your Green Card from time to time is similar to American citizens having to periodically renew their U.S. passport (which is also valid for 10 years) and renew their state-issued driving license (which may be valid for 5-10 years, depending on the state).
After reading this article, you should have a better understanding about what is involved to renew your Green Card, so you will know what to expect 10+ years in the future when, hopefully, you will need to complete this process.
First, if you want to live and work in the USA long-term, you need to receive your Green Card through one of the U.S. immigration programs, such as the Diversity Visa Lottery Program (Green Card Lottery Program) or an Employment-Based Green Card Program.
For over 20 years, USAFIS has been helping thousands of people around the world to pursue their goal to live and work in the USA as a Permanent Resident Green Card holder via the Diversity Visa Lottery Program.
USAFIS makes it easy to prepare and submit your application and photo(s) to the annual DV-Lottery (Green Card Lottery) according to the strict requirements, so you can have the opportunity to receive one of the 55,000 Diversity Immigrant Visas and Green Cards issued each year through this U.S. immigration program.
The annual Diversity Visa Lottery is the easiest way for you and your family to receive a U.S. Permanent Resident Green Card, so take your first step in the process today!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s)
Do Green Cards Expire?
Yes, a U.S. Green Card is usually valid for 10 years (there is a conditional Green Card that is issued for 2 years) and you must apply for a Green Card renewal.
How long does it take to renew your Green Card?
The Green Card renewal process can take about 2-12 months to complete. This is why the Green Card renewal application should be filed six months before the Green Card expires. Since the Green Card renewal process can take time to complete, the USCIS has been stating in the receipt it issues to confirm that it received the renewal application that the Green Card will be valid for an additional 24 months past the expiration date. This receipt should be kept in a safe place in case it is needed to prove U.S. permanent residency in the event that your Green Card expires before you receive the new one.
How can you check the status of your Green Card renewal application?
You can check the status off your Green Card renewal application on your USCIS online account.
Who is eligible to renew a Green Card?
Any Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR) of the United States can apply to renew a Green Card and it is usually a straight-forward process. The only time there may be an issue with a Green Card renewal request is if the U.S. permanent resident violated the law; did not pay his or her taxes; lied or made a mistake on the renewal application; filed the wrong application form; or is considered to have abandoned his or her U.S. permanent residence.
Does a Green Card renewal require an interview?
The Green Card renewal process normally does not require an interview with a USCIS official. You will, however, likely need to go to a scheduled biometrics services appointment to provide an updated digital photo, your fingerprints and signature, which will be used for your new Green Card. In some cases, an interview may be requested when you apply for Green Card renewal, such as if you have a 2-year conditional Green Card and are requesting a regular 10-year Green Card or if there is an issue that requires in-person clarification.
Can the U.S. Government deny a Green Card renewal?
Yes, the U.S. Government can deny a Green Card renewal, however, this normally only occurs if an immigrant has violated the terms of his or her permanent resident status, such as by breaking the law, failing to pay taxes, abandoning permanent residency, making false statements on the application, etc.
How much does it cost to renew your Green Card?
The costs to renew your Green Card include the $495 USD application processing fee and the $85 USD biometrics processing fee.
What if you need your new Green Card immediately?
A U.S. permanent resident can ask the USCIS to expedite the processing of a Green Card renewal application in certain circumstances, such as for humanitarian reasons (for example, death in the family, disability, extreme living situation, illness); or serious financial loss to a company (for example, if a foreign physician’s expired Green Card would result in the physician not being able to work and a medical clinic, therefore, would need to lay off its medical support staff). The USCIS will consider each request for expedited Green Card renewal processing on a case-by-case basis, may request further details and has the exclusive authority to make a decision about the request.
Do you need special documents to renew a U.S. Green Card?
In order to file a Green Card renewal application, you must complete and submit the relevant petition form with the USCIS. Most people who file a Green Card renewal application complete and submit the Form I-90 (for a 10-year Green Card renewal). Some immigrants initially receive a 2-year conditional Green Card and will generally file the Form I-829 if conditions are based on investment or Form I-751 if conditions are based on marriage. Besides the petition form, you may be asked to upload a copy of your current Green Card and other supporting documents.
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