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 -
California (916)-669-0649
Florida (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 -
California (916)-669-0649
Florida (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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