What is a Green Card?
A Permanent Resident Card, commonly known as a Green Card, is evidence
of your status as a lawful permanent resident with a right to live
and work permanently in the United States. It also is evidence of
your registration in accordance with United States immigration laws.
The Permanent Resident Card is also called Form I-551.
What Does the Law Say About Permanent Resident
Cards?
Section 264 of the Immigration and Nationality Act provides that, "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." It also states, "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."
Who Should Renew a Permanent Resident Card?
You should renew your permanent resident card if you are a permanent
resident who was issued a Form I-551 valid for ten years, and that
card is either expired or will expire within the next six months.
Please note: If you are a Conditional Resident and your status
is expiring, these instructions do not pertain to you. You are
to use Form I-751 (Petition to Remove the Conditions on Residence)
to apply to remove the conditions on your permanent resident
status.
- Need Help? Call us at -
Orlando, FL (407)-574-7024
Naples, FL (239)-643-5529
How Do I Renew My Permanent
Resident Card?
If you are a lawful permanent resident whose ten-year I-551 has expired
or will expire within the next six months, you may renew your card by
filing an Form I-90.
Please Note: This procedure should NOT be used by lawful
permanent residents who are seeking to replace their permanent
resident cards for reasons other than expiration of the card’s
ten-year validity. For those seeking to replace their permanent
resident cards for reasons unrelated to the ten-year expiration
date (e.g., because the card has been lost, stolen, mutilated,
or because biographical data has changed or is incorrect), please
see How Do I Replace My Permanent Resident
Card.
Exception: You may, however, request to change your
name on your new card (because of marriage, legal name change,
or divorce) at the time you file your application for a renewal
card. To do so, you must provide a copy of your marriage certificate,
divorce decree or court order as evidence of the legal name change.
If you are otherwise eligible, at the time you file your Form
I-90, you will be provided with temporary evidence of your lawful
permanent residence status. If your renewal application is approved,
you will be mailed a new Permanent Resident Card with a ten-year
expiration date.
How Do I Replace My Permanent
Resident Card.
Who Needs to Replace a Permanent Resident Card?
You will need to replace your permanent resident card if:
- Your previous card was lost, stolen, mutilated, or destroyed;
- Your card was issued to you before you were 14 and you have
reached your 14th birthday;
- You have been a commuter and are now taking up actual residence
in the United States;
- You have been a permanent resident residing in the United States
and are now taking up commuter status;
- Your status has been automatically converted to permanent resident
status, this includes Special Agricultural Worker applicants
who are converting to permanent resident status;
- You have a previous version of the alien registration card
(e.g., USCIS Form AR-3, Form AR-103, or Form I-151 - all no longer
valid to prove your immigration status) and must replace it with
the current permanent resident card (Form I-551);
- Your card contains incorrect data;
- Your name or other biographic information on the card has been
legally changed since you last received your card; or,
- You never received the previous card that was issued to you
by the USCIS.
How Do I Apply to Replace My Permanent Resident
Card?
If you are a permanent resident, who needs to replace your card,
or conditional resident who needs to replace your two-year card,
for any of the reasons listed above, you may apply for a replacement
card by filing a USCIS Form I-90.
Please Note: This procedure should NOT be used by lawful permanent
residents who are seeking to renew their ten-year card only because
the card is expiring or has expired. The Service is providing
separate instructions for the renewal of expiring or expired
I-551s. Please see How Do I Renew My Permanent
Resident Card.
After receiving Form I-90, read it carefully and note the documentation
and photos that must be submitted. Detailed information is provided
in the instructions for Form I-90. Unless otherwise instructed,
you should file the application (with supporting documentation
and fees) in person at the local the USCIS office serving the area
where you live. If your status as a special agricultural worker
has been automatically converted to that of a permanent resident
you should file Form I-90 at the USCIS Service Center that serves
the area where you live.
If you are outside the U.S. and have lost your alien registration
card, contact the nearest American Consulate, USCIS Office or Port
of Entry before attempting to file a Form I-90.
If your Form I-90 application is approved, you will be mailed
a replacement Permanent Resident Card,Form I-551, with a ten-year
expiration date from the date of issuance.
- Need Help? Call us at -
Orlando, FL (407)-574-7024
Naples, FL (239)-643-5529
How Do I Obtain Temporary Evidence of My
Status For Travel or Employment Purposes, if Necessary, While
the USCIS is Reviewing My Form I-90 Application?
At the time that you are completing the fingerprint and signature requirements
(necessary for the adjudication of the Form I-90 and the issuance of
the replacement card) at the appropriate USCIS office, you may request
temporary evidence of your permanent resident status, valid for travel
and/or employment purposes.
What If I am Outside of the United States?
If you are outside the United States, and your permanent resident card
will expire within six months, (but you will return within one year
of your departure from the United States and before the card expires),
you should file for your renewal card as soon as you return to the
United States.
If you are outside of the United States at the time of the card’s
expiration, and you have not applied for the renewal card prior
to your departure, you should contact the nearest American Consulate,
USCIS office, or Port of Entry, before attempting to file Form
I-90 for a renewal I-551 card.
How Can I Find Out the Status of My Application?
To check the status of your application, please contact the Application
Support Center that receipted your application. You should be prepared
to provide the USCIS staff with specific information about your application,
such as your Alien Registration Number, name, and date of birth.
If My Application is Denied How Can I Appeal?
If your application for a renewal of your permanent resident card is
denied, you will receive a letter that will tell you why the application
was denied. You will not be allowed to appeal a negative decision.
However, you may submit a motion to reopen or a motion to reconsider
with the same office that made the unfavorable decision. By filing
such a motion, you may ask the USCIS office to reexamine or reconsider
its decision. A motion to reopen must state the new facts that are
to be provided in the reopened proceeding and must be accompanied by
the appropriate documentary evidence. A motion to reconsider must establish
that the decision to deny your application was based on an incorrect
application of law or Immigration policy, and further establish that
the decision was incorrect, based on the evidence in the file at the
time the decision was made.
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