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Green Card Renewal is an important matter. Green Card holders
(United States permanent residents) with expired Green Cards may be considered
"out of status" and may be denied entry into the United States. It is vital to
keep your proof of permanent residence current and valid. If your Green Card was
issued over 10 years ago, you should check the expiration date printed on the
front of the card. If your Green Card is expired, of it it is about to expire,
you should renew your Green Card immediately.
The Green Card Renewal Application Guide was developed to help a
United States permanent resident (Green Card holder) complete and file his or her own
Green Card renewal application without the assistance of an immigration
attorney. The application guide contains detailed filing instructions and all
the required application forms. This
step-by-step-guide will help you submit your Green Card Renewal application as
efficiently and quickly as possible.
You should download the Green Card Renewal Guide if one or more of the following applies to you:
- Expired Green Card: If your Green Card is expired, you should submit your application immediately.
- Green Card Within 6 Months of Expiration : If your Green Card is going to expire within 6 months, you should submit your application immediately. Backlog at USCIS
offices may delay the issuance of your new Green Card. Early submission for
Green Card renewal is highly recommended.
- Older Green Card Versions: The United States Permanent Resident Card
commonly knows as a "Green Card", has had several different version and official
names over the years, such as: Form AR-3, Form I-151 and Form I-551. If you hold
any of these cards, you should renew your Green Card and obtain the new version.
- Green Card with No Expiration Date: It is not mandatory to
renew your current Green Card if it does not have an expiration date, but it
might be recommended if you have an older version.
Other Green Card Issues:
- Lost or Stolen Green Card: If your Green Card is lost or stolen, you should file for a
replacement immediately.
- Mutilated or Destroyed Green Card: If your Green Card is mutilated, destroyed or becomes illegible, you should request a
replacement immediately.
- Name Change: If you have recently changed your name due to marriage or any other reason, you need to request an
updated Green Card with the new name.
- Incorrect or Outdated Information: If your Green Card contains incorrect or outdated information, you should
update it immediately.
- Green Card Not Received: Occasionally a Green Card is never received even though the application was approved and the Green Card issued by the USCIS. If you have already submitted a Green Card application, but did not receive it, there are certain procedures to follow to get a new one issued.
The Green Card Replacement Application
Guide describes how to request a new Green Card.
- Remove "Conditional Residence": If your Green Card was issued less than 2 years ago, it might be a "conditional
Green Card". Conditional residence Green Cards are valid for two years. Individuals holding expired conditional Green Cards are considered “Out of Status” and the USCIS may start removal proceedings (deportation).
The Green Card Replacement Application Guide contains filing instructions
on how to remove the conditional residence and apply for an unconditional and permanent Green Card.
- Address Change: Permanent residents (Green Card holders) are required by law to inform the USCIS of any address change. It is a misdemeanor to willfully fail to provide the USCIS with a written notice of address change within 10 days. If you don't need to make any changes to your Green Card,
but only need to update your address, please download the Address Change application guide.
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