subject: Are there any legal consequences for failing to renew my Green Card? [print this page] Are there any legal consequences for failing to renew my Green Card?
A Permanent Resident Card also called Form I-551 is a proof of your permanent resident status in the United States. You can use it as a valid identification document to prove that you are eligible to live and work in the United States.
You should renew green card if your Green card is valid for 10 years and the card has expired or will expire within the next 6 months. Conditional Green cards are valid for 2 years. Please note that if you are a Conditional Permanent Resident and your status is expiring then you must file Form I-751, Petition to Remove the Conditions on Residence, to remove the conditions on your permanent resident status. The date of expiry of your Conditional Permanent Resident status will be listed on your Conditional Green card. If you are not certain of the type of Permanent Resident you are, you can check your green card and see if it has a two year expiration date (Conditional Permanent Resident) or a ten year expiration date (Permanent Resident).
If your card does not have any expiration date on the front, then it is an old edition of the Green Card. Cards issued from 1977 to 1988 do not have expiration dates on them. Most old versions are no longer valid. Even if your card does not have an expiration date on it, it is recommend that you renew green card.
It is important to renew green card and keep your card up-to-date. If your card is not valid, you may face difficulty in proving your permanent resident status and this might also affect your ability to travel or to prove your eligibility to work in the United States.
The form used to renew green card is Form I-90. You can file this from within United States. If you are currently outside U.S. and your Green card will expire within the next six months, then you should file to renew green card as soon as you return to U.S.. But keep in mind that you should return to U.S. within 1 year of your departure and before your Green card expires.
If you are currently outside U.S. and your Green card has expired and you have not applied to renew green card prior to your departure, then you should contact the nearest U.S. Consulate, USCIS office, or U.S. port of entry for further instructions on your specific case.
If you do not renew your expiring or expired Green card, you will not loose your Permanent resident status or be penalized, but you may face difficulty in travel, employment and any other benefits that a Permanent resident might receive. Also it is required by law that a person who is age 18 or more and is a Permanent resident always have in possession and carry proof of his/her permanent resident status (e.g. an unexpired Green Card or temporary proof of status you receive at the time of filing to renew green card). You might be delayed on re-entry to U.S. if your Green card has expired. You will be questioned by the immigration officers, particularly if it is a long absence from U.S..
