When to Renew Your Green Card
A. If your ten-year Permanent Resident Card is about to expire or will expire within six months, you need to apply for a renewal.
B. If your Permanent Resident Card is valid for two years, meaning you are a conditional resident, you must file an application to remove conditions on your green card within 90 days before the card expires.
When to Replace Your Green Card
A. If a permanent resident reaches the age of 14, or if the green card expires or the information on the green card needs to be updated, the old green card must be replaced.
B. If the permanent resident's green card is lost, stolen, completely destroyed, or partially damaged.
C. If the new green card is not received within 6 months after application, an application for a replacement green card must be filed.
Important Tips
A. If an applicant's green card is lost while abroad, the applicant must personally visit an overseas USCIS office or a U.S. embassy or consulate to report the loss and apply for a boarding foil.
B. If the green card is damaged due to a quality issue with the card itself, the application fee may be waived.
C. If a foreign national is outside the United States on their 14th birthday, they should generally file the application within 30 days of returning to the United States.
D. If the applicant's address is different from the address provided to USCIS during the previous green card application, or if an incorrect address was provided at that time, the applicant must follow the standard procedures to submit an application and pay the required fees.
E. If an applicant has been judged to have abandoned their permanent resident status, the application for a new green card will not be approved unless the applicant can prove that they have not actually abandoned their permanent resident status.
F. When submitting an application to update information on a green card, USCIS will verify whether the information on the green card matches the information in the application materials. If any discrepancies are found, USCIS will deny the request for a free replacement. If an applicant wishes to replace a green card that contains incorrect information due to their own error, they must follow the standard procedures by submitting Form I-90 and paying the basic application fee and biometric services fee.