What is a Permanent Resident Card?
A Permanent Resident Card, frequently known as a Green Card, is proof of your status as a lawful long-term citizen with a right to live and work completely 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?
Section 264 of the Immigration and Nationality Act offers that, “Every alien in the United States will be provided a certificate of alien registration or an alien registration receipt card in such type and way and at such time as shall be prescribed under regulations.”
It also specifies, “Every alien, eighteen years of age and over, will at all times carry with him and have in his individual belongings any certificate of alien registration or alien registration receipt card provided to him. Any alien who fails to comply with [these] provisions shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.”
The specific requirements and procedures for applying to renew an expiring irreversible resident card are set forth in the Code of Federal Regulations [CFR] at 8 CFR § 264.5.
Who Should Renew a Permanent Resident Card?
You should restore your long-term resident card if you are a permanent homeowner who was provided a Form I-551 valid for ten years, and that card is either ended or will end within the next six months.
These guidelines do not pertain to you if you are a Conditional Resident and your status is expiring. You are to utilize Form I-751 (Petition to Remove the Conditions on Residence) to use to eliminate the conditions on your long-term resident status.
How Do I Apply to Renew My Permanent Resident Card?
You may restore your card by filing an Form I-90 if you are a legal long-term local whose ten-year I-551 has actually ended or will end within the next 6 months.
How Can I Find Out the Status of My Application?
Please click here for total instructions on checking the status of your application. Or, you might examine the status of your application online at Case Status Online.
If My Application is Denied How Can I Appeal?
You will get a letter that will inform you why the application was rejected if your application for a renewal of your irreversible resident card is rejected. You will not be allowed to appeal a negative choice. However, you might submit a movement to reopen or a movement to reassess with the same workplace that made the undesirable choice. By submitting such a motion, you might ask the USCIS workplace to reexamine or reconsider its choice.
A motion to reopen must state the brand-new facts that are to be offered in the resumed case and should be accompanied by the proper documentary evidence. A motion to reconsider need to establish that the choice to reject your application was based on an incorrect application of law or Immigration policy, and even more establish that the decision was inaccurate, based on the evidence in the file at the time the choice was made. To learn more, please see How Do I Appeal the Denial of Petition or Application?
Can Anyone Help Me?
If suggestions is required, you may get in touch with the District Office near your home for a list of organizations who can assist you with the preparation and filing of your application.
You might also want to consult an immigration attorney. This law office can help with several visa types: