The U.S. Permanent Resident Card, also known as a Green Card, serves as proof of your permanent residency in the United States and also certifies your legal right to work and live in the U.S.
Typically, when we refer to a permanent resident card, we mean the "Green Card," which has no restrictions on residency duration. Under normal circumstances, it is valid for 10 years, while a conditional Green Card is valid for 2 years.
According to announcements from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) official website, the U.S. Permanent Resident Card needs to be renewed or replaced. Renewing your Permanent Resident Card is very important; if your Green Card loses its legal validity, it will be difficult to ensure your legal status, which could affect your travel and work life in the U.S.
If your 10-year Green Card is about to expire or is within six months of expiration, you need to initiate the renewal process.
If your Permanent Resident Card is a 2-year conditional card, meaning you are a conditional resident, you need to submit a renewal application 90 days before the card expires. If your application is approved, you will receive a new 10-year Green Card, and you will not need to fill out another I-90 form.
If you hold an old version of the unconditional Green Card, since most old versions have already expired, even if you possess an unconditional Green Card, USCIS recommends that you replace it with the new version of the Permanent Resident Card.
You need to replace your Permanent Resident Card if the information on it needs to be changed, or if your card is lost, damaged, or stolen.
If you became a U.S. Permanent Resident before the age of 14, you need to replace your Permanent Resident Card when you turn 14.
Tips: Starting from February 21, 2017, USCIS will only accept the I-90 form version dated December 23, 2016. The form can be downloaded directly from the USCIS website or filled out on paper. The USCIS form must be completed in full; otherwise, the renewal process cannot begin.