If you are experiencing significant financial hardship, you may be eligible for a fee waiver when you renew your green card. However, this is only possible if you renew your permanent residence card by post. If your green card expires while you are abroad, you must first contact the U.S. Embassy or Consulate and let them know that your card has expired. You will be informed of any special requirements for your case by U.S. government officials. The first action you need to take when renewing your permanent resident card is to fill out Form I-90: Application to Replace the Permanent Resident Card. This form can be completed either online by creating a USCIS online account, or on paper and by mail to USCIS. The green card renewal application process consists of four steps. First, fill out the required government form. Second, gather all necessary supporting documents. Third, arrange payment of the green card renewal fee.
Finally, submit your green card renewal application to the U.S. government. If you need to replace your green card multiple times, it`s a good idea to file a letter each time explaining exactly what happened to your green card so that USCIS doesn`t have as much reason to be suspicious. If you are applying to renew your green card from outside the United States, your biometric appointment will be at your nearest U.S. consulate or embassy. Your green card is proof of your lawful permanent resident status in the United States. Your green card also demonstrates your ability to live and work permanently in the United States. Once you`ve arranged your receipts, it`s time to pay the green card renewal fee. It currently costs $455 to renew or replace your green card. In some cases, you will also have to pay an $85 biometric fee. This USCIS fee calculator is a handy tool you can use to determine how much fees you`ll need to pay for your specific renewal request.
There are four main steps in the USCIS green card renewal process. You must first complete Form I-90, then retrieve your receipts before paying your green card renewal fee, and finally submit your green card renewal petition. If you submit your green card renewal application by mail, you can pay by money order, personal check, cashier`s check or credit card by submitting Form G-1450: Authorization to Conduct Credit Card Transactions. Payment must be made to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. A green card, also known as a permanent resident card, is proof of your U.S. residency status. Your green card remains valid for 10 years, so if you`re staying in the U.S. for an extended period of time, it`s important to make sure you renew it before it expires. While an expired green card doesn`t mean you`ve lost your U.S. residency, you`ll need an updated version to prove your ability to work and live legally in the U.S.
If you reside outside the U.S. and your green card has expired, you must contact the U.S. embassy or consulate or nearest port of entry to inform them that your card has expired before beginning the renewal process. U.S. government officials will inform you of the specific requirements for renewing your card. There are many circumstances in which you will need to renew your green card. For example, note that some exceptions may apply. For example, if you committed an LMIC before the age of 18 and the crime occurred 5 years before the date of your visa application, you may still be eligible for a renewed green card.
If you are unsure whether you will pass the legal eligibility test, you should consult a lawyer. You can also contact Boundless. We can connect you with an immigration lawyer without the immense costs typically associated with legal representation. The current cost of renewing a green card is $540, including a registration fee of $455 and a biometric fee of $85 (for fingerprints, photo and signature). You do not have to pay either fee if you are also requesting a fee waiver. If you apply for U.S. citizenship within six months of your green card expiring, you must apply for your green card renewal. While it is sometimes possible to get your citizenship with an expired green card, it could create unnecessary hurdles for you. Generally, to apply for a green card renewal, you must be a lawful permanent resident of the United States. Conditional permanent residents (2-year green card holders) must request that the condition be removed from their green card. This is a completely different process than the one we discuss in this guide. If you are replacing or renewing your green card because it has expired or is about to expire, simply attach a copy of your last green card to your application.
Before proceeding with the green card renewal process, you must first determine if you are eligible to renew your green card. In general, you can get a new green card if: The rest of the steps depend on whether you submit your renewal petition online or by mail to USCIS: If you are a conditional permanent resident (CPR) and approaching your 2-year limit, you will likely need to attend an interview after completing Form I-751. known as the Petition for the Abolition of Conditions of Residence. This is due to a policy change that came into effect in December 2018. Read our article on this topic to learn more. You may need to provide a legal document issued in the United States for use in another country. These records may include court orders, contracts, biographical data and educational credentials. To verify signatures, stamps or seals on these documents, they must be authenticated. If the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) will deny your green card renewal application and send you an explanation for its rejection.
If you think USCIS should have approved your green card renewal application, you can follow this process: The green card is a rectangular plastic card and contains information about a permanent resident. The front of the green card displays your photo, first and last name, USCIS number, country of birth, signature, fingerprint, date of birth, gender, U.S. entry category, and other important details. USCIS will also send you a notification for a biometric appointment approximately two weeks after you receive your green card renewal application. The biometric appointment notice informs you of the date, place and time your fingerprints, signature and photo can be taken. If you file your petition on Form I-90 online, you can pay online at the pay.gov. In all other cases, you can choose between a money order, a cheque or a credit card. While there`s probably no problem as long as you follow the instructions and the law, there are situations where the U.S. government can deny a green card renewal application — for example, if you committed a crime, didn`t pay your taxes, lied about your application, or filled out the wrong form. If you wish to submit your green card renewal application online, you can do so through your USCIS online account.
You can upload your receipts online, or USCIS may ask you to mail your receipts separately. If you have already been arrested, even if it has not resulted in a conviction, it can have serious repercussions on your status as a lawful permanent resident. Even if the arrest has not occurred as a problem in the past, it can occur as a result of filing the green card renewal. If this applies to you, consult an immigration lawyer before filing your application. Before filling out forms, you must first understand the reason for renewing your green card. Lost your green card? Is your green card about to expire? Has your name changed since you last issued your green card? The reason you are requesting the extension will determine your filing fee and the documentation you must submit in support of your case. Once USCIS receives your green card renewal petition, it takes an average of 1.5 to 12 months for them to send you your new green card. The most recent processing period can be found on the USCIS website. For other types of green card replacements, USCIS may request additional documents. If you need a new green card for any other reason, such as if it is lost, stolen or damaged, you must provide other documents. Take a look at this unlimited diagram to determine which supporting documents to submit to USCIS.
You must file Form I-751, Petition to Remove Residency Requirements, or Form I-829, Investor`s Petition to Remove Permanent Resident Requirements, to request that we remove the requirements of your permanent resident status. You cannot complete Form I-90, Application to Replace the Permanent Resident Card. Once USCIS receives your application, you will be notified of a scheduled time for your biometric appointment, which is usually within 1-2 weeks.