All U.S. green cards -- that is, the plastic identity card given to lawful permanent residents -- that were issued in 1989 or later have an expiration date on the front. They are valid for ten years, at the end of which you are expected to renew your green card. The process of doing so involves submitting Form I-90, Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card, issued by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
Does Your Permanent Residence Expire When Your Card Does?
This is a common source of confusion, but no, your status as a lawful permanent resident will not be affected if you do not renew your green. However, you will face difficulty proving your status as a lawful permanent resident, getting employment, reentering the U.S. after foreign travel, and so forth. Besides, you are required by law to carry valid evidence of your immigration status -- and an expired card is not considered valid evidence.
This comes as a particular surprise to immigrants who received green cards between 1979 and 1988. In the past, these did not have an expiration date and did not need to be renewed. However, the system has changed, and you are now expected to renew such cards. If you haven't done so already, do so right away.
NOTE: If your green card has a two-year expiration date on it, that's a completely different matter. You are not a permanent resident, but a "conditional resident," whose actual status will in fact expire if you do not take steps to convert to permanent residence.
When to Renew
You should submit your application within the six months leading up to your green card's expiration. That will give USCIS time to process the application.
How to Renew
You must submit an application to renew your green card on USCIS Form I-90. You must provide the following information:
- Your name
- Your address in the U.S.
- Your date, place and country of birth
- Alien registration number ("A number")
- U.S. Social Security Number
- Class of admission
- Your mother’s name
- Your father’s name
- City of residence where you applied for an immigrant visa or adjustment of status
- Consulate where immigrant visa was issued or USCIS office where status was adjusted
If you have filed a Form I-407, Abandonment by Alien of Status as Lawful Permanent Resident, or otherwise been determined to have abandoned your status, you must provide a detailed explanation.
You must submit a copy of your expiring or expired green card along with Form I-90. If your name has changed since the issuance of your green card, you must submit evidence of your name change – court order, marriage certificate, adoption decree, etc.
Processing
You must submit the completed Form I-90 along with the required documents and a fee to the USCIS office having jurisdiction over your place of residence in the United States. You must also pay a biometrics fee for fingerprinting. USCIS may contact you for more information or call you for an interview. If your Form I-90 is complete, you will receive a letter from the USCIS asking you to go to the local USCIS Application Support Center (ASC) for your biometrics appointment. If you do not provide your biometric information, your application will be denied. The USCIS will notify you about its decision in writing.
