The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that expired Permanent Resident Cards (PRC), or Green Cards will now be valid for 36 months instead of 24 months for lawful permanent residents who have applied to replace their PRC or wish to renew it. This means that the original cards validity will be extended by 36 months following the application for a new one.

Process

According to the USCIS, individuals newly filing Form I-90, (Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card) will receive a Form I-797 (Notice of Action) receipt notice with the 36-month automatic extension. Applicants with a pending application will receive an amended receipt notice with the 36-month automatic extension before the initial 24-month extension period expires.

When completing Form I-9 (Employment Eligibility Verification), new employees may present an expiring or expired PRC with this receipt notice as a List A document that extends the PRC for 36 months from the card’s expiration date. The USCIS notice instructs employers to not reverify current employees who presented these documents with the original 24-month extension when they originally completed Form I-9.

If you are a lawful permanent resident or conditional permanent resident and need to replace your Green Card, you may begin the application process by filing Form I-90, Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card, online or through mail. Filing online will allow you to be constantly updated on the filing process and communicate directly with the US immigration department. The Form I-90 receipt notice can be used with your expired PRC as evidence of your lawful permanent resident status.

When to Replace the PRC:

According to USCIS, a lawful permanent resident in US is required to replace their PRC for the following reasons:

• The PRC is either expired or will expire within the next six months
• The previous card was lost, stolen, or destroyed
• You received your card before you were 14 and you have reached your 14th birthday (unless your card expires before your 16th birthday)
• You have been a commuter and are now taking up actual residence in the United States
• You have been a permanent resident residing in the United States and are now taking up commuter status
• Your status has been automatically converted to permanent resident status (this includes special agricultural worker applicants who converted to permanent resident status)
• You have a previous version of the PRC or the alien registration card (for example, USCIS Form AR-3, Form AR-103 or Form I-151, which are no longer valid to prove your immigration status) and must replace it with a current PRC.
• Your card contains incorrect information
• You have legally changed your name or other biographic information on the card since you last received your card
• You never received the previous card issued by the department.

For Conditional Permanent Residents:

• Your previous card was lost, stolen, or destroyed
• Your card contains incorrect information
• You have legally changed your name or other biographic information on the card since you last received your card
• You never received the previous card issued by the department..