Need To Replace Your Lost Or Outdated Green Card?

By Author: Nicole McGuire
Total Articles: 9
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A Green Card, also known as a Permanent Resident Card, is one of the most important proofs for an immigrant that verifies their status as a permanent resident. It is also serves a valid form of identification that allows one to live and work in the United States. Although some of the older issued Green Cards have no expiration dates, the newer Permanent Resident Cards (Form I-551) are valid for 10 years. If you have been granted conditional permanent residency, the card is valid for 2 years. Due to its importance as a form of ID for a permanent resident, it is important that you keep your Green Card up-to-date. Because remember, without a valid Green Card, your ability to travel outside the United Sates, or even work here, is compromised.

Well, how do you know if you need to replace your Green Card?

Most importantly, youneed to replace your Green Card if your card is about to expire. This does not apply to you if you are a conditional permanent resident whose green card is about to expire, but more on that later;

If your Green Card has been lost, stolen, or damaged, then you need to replace it as soon as ...
... possible. If it was stolen or lost, it is important to notify the USCIS and local police as soon as can because this is a government issued form of identification that in the wrong hands, will make your life difficult since it is a form of ID theft;

If personal information has legally changed, such as a name due to marriage or divorce, then you need to replace your current Green Card. If your Green Card has incorrect information because of an administrative error made by the USCIS, you still need to replace it but you should not be charged a fee since it was not your fault, as long as you provide proof that it was not your error;

You need to replace your Green Card if you became a permanent resident before you turned 14 years old. You are required by law to replace your card when you become 14 years old;

If you have an older version of a Green Card, such as USCIS Form AR-3, Form AR-103 or Form I-151, which has no expiration date, it is to your advantage to replace it was the newer Green Card version, Form I-551;

Finally, you need to replace your Green Card, if you never received a previously issued one from the USCIS. Again, in this situation, you need to report this as soon as possible to the USCIS and your local police department.

How do you go about replacing your Green Card?

If you need to replace your Green Card for any of the reasons listed above, you can do so by filing a Form I-90(green card renewal), Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card. If you are outside the U.S. and your Green Card was stolen, lost or damaged,then contact the nearest U.S. consulate, USCIS office or port of entry before attempting to file a Form I-90. Once your Form I-90 application is approved, you will be mailed a replacement green card with a 10-year expiration date from the date it is issued.

Now, if yourif you are a conditional resident and your status is about to expire, DO NOT file Form I-90. If you are a permanent resident who was granted conditional permanent resident status, you are required to file a petition to remove those conditions within 90 days of your card expiring by filing Form I-751, Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence. If your conditional status was based on a marriage, you must also file Form I-751.

Remember, your Green Card is an important form of identification, issued by the United States government that legally proves your permanent residency status. Therefore, it is to your advantage to keep it current so that you can avoid the hassles that come with letting its status lapse.

SOURCE: Need To Replace Your Lost Or Outdated Green Card?

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