The green card is otherwise known as the United States Permanent Resident Card. It serves as legal proof that you have the right to both reside in and be employed in the United States. Upon issuance of a green card, your status is updated to Lawful Permanent Resident. It is very important to know when your green card expires so that you can renew immediately. If you fail to renew your green card, it will be very difficult to re-enter the United States, let alone obtain employment there.
Check digits 9-14 on the second line of your green card. The expiration date should be listed in YY/MM/DD format.
Read More: How Long Does it Take to Get a Green Card?
Check to see if the card was issued prior to August 1989. All cards issued before 1989 have no expiration date until the United States Citizenship Immigration Services publishes the Final Rule. The USCIS made a public announcement of the Final Rule on December 13, 2007. Holders of a green card without an expiration date had to renew their green card within 120 days after the Final Rule was published.
Check to see if the card is a Conditional Residence Green Card. If so, the card expires two years after the date of issuance.
Check the issuance date. If the green card is a Permanent Resident Card, then the expiration date is ten years after the date the card is issued, or within six months of the ten-year date.
Tips
Although it isn't mandatory to renew your green card if it doesn't have an expiration date, it is highly recommended. Once your green card expires, you may go to the USCIS office and receive temporary proof of your resident status. This is valid for one year. You can apply for renewal of your green card up to six months prior to the expiration date. If your green card is lost, stolen, or mutilated, you must replace it immediately, whether or not it is past the expiration date. It takes ten to twelve months to receive your green card after filing a renewal.
Tips
- Although it isn't mandatory to renew your green card if it doesn't have an expiration date, it is highly recommended. Once your green card expires, you may go to the USCIS office and receive temporary proof of your resident status. This is valid for one year. You can apply for renewal of your green card up to six months prior to the expiration date. If your green card is lost, stolen, or mutilated, you must replace it immediately, whether or not it is past the expiration date. It takes ten to twelve months to receive your green card after filing a renewal.
Writer Bio
Lela Bast is a professional writer whose articles have appeared on websites such as Essortment. She is currently pursuing her Bachelor of Science in engineering at the University of Pennsylvania, majoring in bioengineering and minoring in engineering entrepreneurship and computer science.