If you are renewing a Green Card, the only document you may
need to submit is your current Green Card. If you can provide a copy of your
current Green Card, that's all you need to renew your Green Card.
Documents required when replacing a Green Card
·
If you are replacing a lost, stolen or damaged
Green Card, you must submit:
·
A copy of the stolen or damaged Green Card
·
A copy of a valid government issued photo ID,
including a passport, driver's license or other piece of identification
·
If there is an error on your Green Card
·
If you have just applied for and received a
Green Card but notice an error on the card, then you must provide the following
documents:
·
The original Green Card
·
A copy of your birth certificate, marriage
certificate or any other document containing the correct information
If you renew for other reasons
If you are renewing or replacing your Green Card for any
other reason, follow the instructions on form
i131 , Form I-90. The I-90 form gives 17 different
reasons to renew your Green Card. In addition, the instructions and
documentation requirements are different for each of these reasons.
Sign the I-90 form and send it
The final step in renewing your Green Card is to sign Form
I-90 and submit it to USCIS. If you fail to sign your Form I-90, then it will
be declared invalid and rejected. Many Green Card renewals have made this
mistake.
Form I-90 can be filed entirely online. Or, you can send it
to USCIS directly. As of 2015, however, the vast majority of green card
applications and renewals have been completed online. Even if you apply by mail,
USCIS will create an online account for your future correspondence.
Here's what happens next after I submit my Green Card renewal?
After submitting a request to renew your Green Card, you
will need to wait to receive an update by mail online or by post. Here's what
happens next:
USCIS will send you a receipt confirming that it has
accepted your request. this receipt will be sent to your address and sent to
your online account
USCIS will send a notification if you need to provide
biometric information; this notification must arrive within 1 to 2 weeks of
receipt of your request by USCIS; If you need to provide biometric information,
you may need to submit fingerprints, photographs, and a signature to USCIS.
USCIS may require additional documents beyond what you have
provided; in this case, USCIS will send you a proof request by mail and then
post it to your account.
Finally, you will receive notice of the decision from USCIS
by mail and that decision will be posted online.
How long does it take to renew my Green Card?
Typically, a Green Card renewal takes 2-3 months from start
to finish. USCIS processes thousands of Green Card renewal requests each month.
This is why it is recommended to request the renewal of the
Green Card within 6 months from the expiration date. What happens if USCIS
denies your Green Card renewal request?
In some instances, the USICS might want to go through all your immigration-related papers from the start. This means that they will once again assess everything from your initial H-1B visas to all other documentations that you might have. This process can take a long time, unless you work with a trained immigration attorney that can help in fast-forwarding the process.
You lied on your request
The United States government has ordered you to leave the
country before your green card expires
You filled out incorrect forms or provided incorrect
supporting documents For all of these reasons, the United States Citizenship
and Immigration Services may deny your Green
Card renewal request.
If USCIS denies renewing your Green Card application, you
cannot appeal the decision. However, you can submit a motion for USCIS to
reopen or reconsider the request. For this motion to pass, you must have proof
that the decision was made because of an error in the application of
immigration policy or law.
