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How to Renew an
Expired Green Card Card?
United States Green Card Renewal Frequently Asked Questions and Answers
including General Application Information and Access to Immigration Forms.
A U.S.
resident status (Green Card or Legal Permanent Residence), is only valid and granted for people
that live or intend to live in the US. If you move out of the US permanently
then you will lose your Green Card. There are exceptions
for people temporary living out of the U.S. because of work with the U.S. armed forces abroad, or
because are a civilian employee of the U.S. Government stationed abroad pursuant
to official orders. Another exception are the people that have a valid re-entry permit and are
allowed to live outside of the United States temporarily for up to 2 years, with
the intention to go back to live in the U.S. before the expiration of their
re-entry permit.
As a green card holder you may leave the U.S. multiple times and re-enter, as
long as you do not intend to stay outside the U.S. for 12 months or longer, however
leaving the U.S. for more than 6 months may already cause suspicious of your
intent to abandon your residency in the U.S. Your travel out of the U.S. must be temporary
and you must be able to prove that you didn’t intent to abandon your Legal
Permanent Residence in the U.S. If you stay outside of the U.S. for 1 year or
more, the immigration officers may assume that you have abandoned your
residence, and you may be found inadmissible and denied reentry into the U.S.
Not being able to prove your temporary stay abroad may result in losing your
green card.
A Green Card or Permanent Resident Card, also called USCIS
Form I-551, is evidence of your registration in accordance with U.S. immigration
laws, and serves as proof of your immigration status as a U.S. lawful permanent
resident with the right to live and work permanently in the United States. There
is a big difference between the green card itself, and the status
as a permanent resident. The card is just proof of your status, however even if
you have a valid card you might be considered out of status, for example in the
case that you abandoned your residence in the U.S. and moved to another country;
also the opposite may happen as you might have an expired green card but still
have a valid status as a legal resident of the U.S.
Expiring Green Card
When your Green card is expiring your status is not expiring, just the proof of
your status is what is expiring. You should renew your card to be able to prove
that you are a legal resident with the right to live and work in the U.S., and
to be in compliance with U.S. immigration regulations, but keep in mind that you
are just renewing the card, not your status as a legal resident. Not having a
valid Green Card may affect your ability to travel in or out of the U.S. If your
green card was issued valid for ten years, and your green card is either expired
or will expire within the next six months, then you may file an application to
renew your permanent resident card with the USCIS. If a green card doesn’t have
any expiration date, then it is probably a very old version and it may no longer
be valid, therefore it is recommended to renew it. If you became a permanent
resident before you turned 14 years old, you are required to replace your green
card once you become 14 years old.
Expiring Conditional Green Card
If you are a
Conditional Resident, and your conditional green card is expiring,
then do not use the regular USCIS form to renew your Green Card. Instead you
must file a Petition to Remove the Conditions on Residence to receive a
permanent Green Card (Joint Petition to Remove Conditional Basis of Alien’s
Permanent Resident Status). If your green card was obtained through marriage
then you and your husband are required to file jointly to remove the conditions
on your green card, to receive a permanent resident card. If your green card was
obtained through investment then use a petition to remove conditions on your
green card to be sent a new Permanent Resident Card valid for 10 years. To find
out links to access the instructions and forms to remove the conditions on your
card by ordering this set of Answers to Frequently Asked Questions and
application information.
Other Helpful
Green Card Resources:
Lost or Stolen
Green Cards should be replaced
immediately
Destroyed or Mutilated Green Cards should be
replaced with a new Green Card
Green Card Update with a Name Change
Remove
Conditions on Green Card
Green Card Address Change to inform the USCIS
of your new address.
Citizenship for Green Card holders.
Live
Abroad with a Green Card
Green Card Expired
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