Getting Your Green Card Renewed or Replaced
A green card is officially known as a Permanent Resident Card, or Form I-551. The green card is proof that you are a legal, permanent resident of the United States and live in accordance with immigration laws of this country. The green card is considered very important because it ensures your right to work and live permanently and legally in the US. Laws and regulations surrounding the green card are contained in The Immigration and Nationality Act. The Immigration and Nationality Act, Section 264, states, “Every alien in the United States shall be issued a certificate of alien registration or an alien registration receipt card in such form and manner and at such time as shall be prescribed under regulations…Every alien, eighteen years of age and over, shall at all times carry with him and have in his personal possession any certificate of alien registration or alien registration receipt card issued to him. Any alien who fails to comply with [these] provisions shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.” For this reason, it is important to take care of green card renewal if your green card is about to expire. It is also important to replace your green card if you have lost it. If you are without a valid green card for even a short period of time you could face serious legal and immigration consequences that could affect your immigration status and your ability to secure US citizenship.
The procedures for green card replacement and renewal are outlined in the Code of Federal Regulations [CFR] at 8 CFR § 264.5. Most Permanent Resident Cards are issued for a period of ten years. If this pertains to your green card, when your green card has about six months left before expiry, you should begin the green card renewal process. If you are a Conditional Resident instead of having a Permanent Resident Card, you will need to fill out Form I-751 (Petition to Remove the Conditions on Residence) renew your status. If you are currently a resident of the US with a Permanent Resident Card, you can start the green card renewal procedure by filling out Form I-90. You can fill out this form online or get the form in paper format from an immigration office.
It is possible that you will be out of the country when your Permanent Resident Card is about to expire. If you will return to the US before your Permanent Resident Card officially expires, wait until you return to the US and fill out Form I-90 as soon as you are in the US again. If you will be outside the US when your card expires, you can contact a USCIS, American Consulate, or Port of Entry for detailed instructions. If your green card is denied renewal, you can submit a motion to reconsider or a motion to reopen the case.
In addition to renewing your card, you may need to replace your green card for a number of reasons. You will need to replace your card if it has been destroyed, seriously damaged, lost or stolen. If you first received your Permanent Resident Card before the age of 14 and you are now 14 years of age, you will need to replace your card. If you are taking up commuter status or if your status has been converted to permanent resident status automatically, you will need to apply for green card replacement. If you have an older version of the Permanent Resident Card, such as Form AR-103, Form AR-3, or Form I-151, you will need to replace your card as these previous Permanent Resident Cards are no longer valid. You will also need to start the green card replacement status if your green card contains inaccurate information or if you have changed your name or other details since you received your last Permanent Resident Card. The green card replacement process simply requires you to fill out Form I-90, which you can do online. You can also get a form from an immigration office and mail it in.
How to Make Sense of US Immigration Requirements
To many people who dream of making the US a permanent home, US immigration requirements seem very confusing. Not only do laws and regulations change often, but it can be challenging for someone who is just learning English for the first time to understand complicated legal texts. Even English-speakers sometimes struggle to understand the difference between “form n400” and other forms necessary. If you are interested in immigration, here are some places you can turn for help:
1) Your local library. Your local library is an under-used resource. Here, you will find books about immigration written specifically for new immigrants who are just learning to speak the language. A librarian can help you find websites, books, and other materials that will help you understand the immigration process clearly. Keep in mind that most libraries also have ESL (English as a Second language) programs that can help you work on your language skills. This can help you with your immigration process in showing that you are serious about settling in the US permanently.
2) Your school. If you attend a school or take language courses at a school, your school may have resources that can help you. Your school may even have a faculty or staff member who can guide you through the immigration process. Some schools (especially colleges) have attorneys on staff who can guide you through filling out ins forms, or any other documentation you need to submit. Ask your school counselor, international student center or office of registration to find out which services are available to students.
3) Immigration lawyers. Attorneys who specialize in immigration are especially useful if you have a non-standard or unusual application, or you have problems with green card renewal. However, be aware that immigration attorneys charge fees – sometimes high ones. Use this resource sparingly and consult free or low-cost resources first.
4) Multicultural organizations. There are many groups – some hosted by community centers or by churches – that offer services especially for immigrants. Usually, these groups can help you with your immigration application as well as with language classes. You can often find these groups through your local library or through your local phone book. It is a good idea to find such a group in your area, since in addition to immigration help, multicultural organizations also offer wonderful emotional support and social support for newly arrived Americans.
5) Websites. There are many online resources – such as this one – offering help and information about US immigration. Just check carefully when you use online resources, to ensure that the information you are getting is accurate. Also, do not pay for any services or information online that you can get somewhere else for less.