By: Jennifer Fabian-Verzosa, Esq.

IT HAS BEEN 10 YEARS (OR ALMOST 10 YEARS), AND IT IS FINALLY TIME TO LOOK INTO RENEWING THAT NOT-SO-GREEN-ANYMORE (REALLY, IT’S NOT GREEN ANYMORE) GREEN CARD, A.K.A. “PERMANENT RESIDENT CARD.”

Whether it’s your first green card renewal or your third, so many things have changed in 10 years (not just your picture), that it is more important than ever to review the process for renewal to ensure you are doing things correctly.

First of all, you can now file the application online , through the USCIS website. Paper applications are also still acceptable. As of this post, the filing fee is $365 , not including the $85 biometrics fee (fingerprinting and photos). Some individua ls may qualify for a waiver of the fees. You may want to consult an attorney to determine whether you are eligible for such waivers, since waivers often get denied for lack of sufficient supporting documentation; this delays the processing of your green card renewal application. Our office can help determine whether you qualify for a fee waiver: contact@law-jf.com

The application to renew your green card is I-90 , Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card . This same form can also be used if your card has merely been lost, stolen, or destroyed. USCIS is also increasing the filing fee for the I-90 , from $365 to $455 in December 2016 (read more HERE ) , so if your green card is expired or set to expire within 6 months, it is a good time to start looking into renewing it (or applying for naturalization ) before fees increase.

 WHAT YOU’LL NEED = You will generally need to submit a copy of your previous green card with your application.

Individuals with additional issues such as an already-expired green card , super old green card without an expiration date (you know, the kind with your baby picture!) , future Naturalization application (U.S. Citizenship) , and errors or changes on their green card , may wish to consult with an immigration attorney for strategy on approaching these specific issues.

 Those persons intending to travel outside of the U.S. with an expired or soon-to-expire green card will need temporary proof of their permanent residency when returning to the U.S.

Our FRIENDLY IMMIGRATION LAW OFFICE assists individuals throughout the United States with their green card applications and provides immigration consultations to help address your complex green card problems. Contact us today!

Lastly, if you think you may be ready to trade your green card for U.S. Citizenship , you can learn about the BENEFITS OF BECOMING A NATURALIZED U.S. CITIZEN HERE .

MORE ARTICLES

• USCIS Immigration Fee Increases are coming before the end of 2016
• Top 8 Reasons to Naturalize & Become a U.S. Citizen
• Proposed Increase in Immigration Fees, including Naturalization
• Do I “Need” an Immigration Attorney For My Petition or Visa?
• This Month’s Promotions & Discounts!!

DISCLAIMER : This blog provides general information and is not intended to be legal advice. Use of the information does not establish an attorney-client relationship. Any cases mentioned do not guarantee or predict outcomes in future cases. Please consult an attorney before acting on any material. Please do not submit any time-sensitive or confidential information in the comments below. Any information you send may be publicly-visible and is not protected from disclosure. Jennifer Fabian-Verzosa is the attorney responsible for the content and material on this blog. She is licensed in D.C. and HI, and exclusively practices immigration law in federal jurisdictions.

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