How Do You Renew A Green Card?

Every permanent resident will, at one point or another, need to renew their green card. To accomplish this task, there is a specific renewal process that must be followed.

By being familiar with the renewal process, the act of renewing a green card becomes much easier.

How Do You Renew A Green Card? 

Right before a permanent resident can renew their green card, they must be eligible to do so. Some of the criteria for green card renewal eligibility are as follows:

• The green card expires in six-months.
• The green card contains incorrect information.
• The green card was lost, stolen, or destroyed.

A permanent resident who meets this criteria will be able to renew their green card.

Step 01: Fill Out Form I-90 

To begin the green card renewal process, a permanent resident must fill out Form I-90. By doing so, they can apply to replace their permanent resident card and clarify their reason for doing so.

A permanent resident can fill out an online version of Form I-90. Or, alternatively, they can print out the form and complete it by hand.

Submitting an online version of Form I-90 can be done with the press of a button. But, a permanent resident who chooses to fill out the form by hand must send it in the mail.

Step 02: Gather The Necessary Documentation 

Right before a permanent resident can submit Form I-90, they must gather the necessary documentation. The exact documentation a permanent resident will need depends on the reason for their renewal application.

A permanent resident who is renewing their soon-to-expire green card only needs to include a copy of their current green card. But, a  permanent resident whose green card contains incorrect information must include:

• Their original green card.
• Legal documentation that contradicts the invalid information.

A permanent resident who is renewing a lost, stolen, or destroyed green card must include a copy of their government ID with their name, birth date, signature, and photo.

Step 03: Pay The Renewal Fees 

The fee for submitting Form I-90 is $455. A permanent resident can pay this fee with:

• A money order.
• Debit/credit card.
• A personal check.
• A cashier’s check.

Every single one of these payment methods can be used for both paper and electronic filing.

Outside of the $455 filing fee, a permanent resident may also need to pay an $85 biometrics fee. A permanent resident will not need to pay this fee, though, if they never received their previous green card or their current green card has incorrect data due to an error made by DHS.

 Step 04: Submit The Renewal Application 

Right after completing the steps above, a permanent resident can submit their renewal application.

To submit their renewal application, a permanent resident can:

• Submit it through the USCIS online platform.
• Send it to the USCIS in Phoenix, Arizona.

Once the renewal application has been received, the permanent resident will receive a receipt. Within a period of 1-to-2-months, that same permanent resident will receive their new green card.

Speak With A Houston Immigration Lawyer

Renewing a green card can be tricky, especially if you aren’t quite sure how to file the renewal application.

Speak with a Houston immigration lawyer today. We will assist you in filling out the renewal application and receiving your new green card.

Sources: 

uscis.gov/forms/explore-my-options/renew-or-replace-my-green-card

uscis.gov/i-90

uscis.gov/forms/explore-my-options/renew-or-replace-my-green-card