How to renew my Green Card

The Green Card renewal process is an obligation that you cannot take lightly or postpone for economic reasons. Learn about the process you must follow to keep your immigration status in order.

Obtaining a Green Card is one of the most important administrative processes for any immigrant in the United States. Obtaining it means you have a legal stay and are now a permanent resident in the land of the American dream.

Knowing how to renew your Green Card and when to do it is the first step to complying with the obligations acquired with the United States government and, in turn, maintaining peace of mind while being within the legal framework.

When should I renew my Green Card?

The Green Card is valid for 10 years, in which you only have to worry about having it on hand to travel, as well as for any banking or administrative procedure. When the end of this period is about to come, it is time to take action and prepare your documentation to renew it.

There are some cases in which the Green Card is valid for two years, this means that your status is conditional. It is issued when the marriage with a non-citizen is less than two years old or when the application was submitted for a family immigration petition. If this is your case, you must submit a cancellation request 90 days before the deadline, to obtain a 10-year permanent residence card.

A Green Card (non-conditional) must be renewed within six months prior to expiration and extends up to six months after expiration. But the saying goes, don't put off until tomorrow what you can do today, since the renewal process can take from a month and a half to a year until you receive your approval.

Requirements to renew my Green Card

The Green Card renewal process can be done through traditional mail or online. The procedure is similar to that of the application for the first time, only the communication channel changes. These are the steps you will need to follow:

1. Open an account on the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

(USCIS), even if you carry out the process by traditional mail, this account will help you to verify the approval status later.

1. Complete Form I-90 (physical or digital).
2. Upload to the USCIS digital platform or make a copy of the required documentation, generally only the Green Card that is about to expire is requested.
3. Review and sign your application (physically or digitally).
4. Pay government fees (we will talk about these below).
5. File your form on the platform or send it by mail to the USCIS.

The USCIS will notify your authorization by mail or through your account on the official site and will send a reference number to prove the status of the process, as soon as you receive your new card. One or two weeks later you will be assigned an appointment to take your biometric data (fingerprints, photo, and signature). You can verify the rest of the process on the website.

Fees to renew my Green Card

Whether you complete the Green Card renewal process by traditional mail or online, you will have to pay a filing fee of $540 USD. If you do it digitally, you need to pay by credit card online and if you do it by mail, you will use Form G-1450, Authorization for Credit Card Transactions.

The $540 USD Green Card renewal fee includes a $455 USD processing fee and an $85 USD biometric services fee. In the event that your financial situation prevents you from paying this amount, you must request a fee waiver that will only be accepted in the following cases:

• If you receive any government support such as supplemental income or temporary assistance for families in need.
• If the household income is below 150% of the federal poverty guidelines.
• If you go through economic problems for medical reasons.