IMMIGRATION LAW
Immigration lawyer for green card renewal in NYC
There are two types of applications to renew your Green Card. First is renewal of your 10-year card because it is lost, stolen or about to expire. And the second type is renewal of the temporary two-year card. The two types of renewals require different applications and different types of documentation in support. We will discuss both types of renewals below.
Why submit a petition to remove conditions of the 10-year card?
If your Green Card is valid for ten years, you need to renew your Green Card if it is lost, stolen, already expired or about to expire in 6 months. You can also submit a request to renew if your Green Card has typographical errors on it such as errors in the spelling of your names, date of birth, or other personal data.
The tricky part is that you cannot send in the Green Card Renewal Application earlier than 6 months prior to the expiration date. However, the current processing times for US Green Card Renewal is about one year or more. So what happens when you have about 6 months of expired Green Card, but have not received the new one? Check out the frequently asked questions below. The application for the ten-year Green Card renewal is the I-90 application.
What should I expect once I submit the I-90 application?
First, you submit the Green Card Renewal Application by mail or online along with the filing fee. Then you can expect to receive a biometrics notice so that you can provide fingerprints to USCIS. Lately, however, USCIS has been able to use previously captured fingerprints and they electronically review them. So you may instead receive a notice that says, we have been able to reuse your fingerprints—we do not need you to appear for a new appointment. The notice looks like this below. And the content is the same for many different types of applications.
When do I renew my 2-year temporary Green card.
If your Green Card is valid only for two years and it was through marriage, you need to submit an application to remove conditions and thus to renew your Green Card with it. There are different scenarios on when and how you renew your 2-year Green Card.
Joint renewal of the green card.
If you are still married and still residing with the spouse through whom you obtained permanent residence, then to renew your Green Card is through a joint petition. What does “jointly” mean? It means that both you and your spouse sign and date the petition telling USCIS that they should renew your card and send you a permanent one. When you submit a joint petition, you typically also submit proof of your bona fide marriage. This proof is usually joint documents such as lease/mortgage, tax returns, joint bank statements, bills, photos, etc.
In addition, your joint petitions must be filed no earlier than 90 days from the expiration, and obviously not later than the date of expiration. So you have a 90-day window of when you can submit your joint petition with USCIS.
Why You Should Work With a Lawyer for Green Card Renewal
Navigating the Green Card renewal process can be complex, especially if you’re dealing with expired cards, legal documentation, or unique personal situations. Working with a Green Card Renewal Lawyer in New York can ensure that your application is filed accurately and on time.
Here’s how a qualified lawyer for Green Card application can help:
- Review your case to determine which form (I-90 or I-751) is appropriate
- Ensure all supporting documents are correctly prepared
- Help you avoid common mistakes that lead to delays or denials
- Communicate with USCIS on your behalf if issues arise
- Assist in filing late or complex petitions with proper justification
Having expert legal guidance during the US Green Card Renewal process can give you peace of mind and improve your chances of a successful outcome.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (I-90 renewals)
My Green card expired and the renewal application will take a long time. I need to travel. What can I do?
If you need to travel overseas, you can ask for an Infopass appointment at your local office. The officer can stamp your passport with an I-551 stamp which is a temporary proof of LPR status. Do not travel if you do not have this stamp and your Green card is expired.
My green card expired but I need proof for my I-9 employment verification. What Can I do?
You can schedule an Infopass appointment at your local office and ask for an I-551 stamp in your passport, which serves as temporary proof of your permanent residence. An I-551 stamp is an acceptable document on List A for I-9 verification purpose. You can find the list here.
Frequently Asked Questions (I-751 renewals)
f you are late in filing you I-751, your green card is no longer valid for travel and for employment. Another risk is that you may receive a notice telling you that the government is placing you in removal proceedings.
You will need to provide an explanation of why you were late in filing. Depending on the reasons why you were later, you may still be able to successfully obtain your permanent green card.
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