USCIS has increased the validity period of Green Cards for renewals to 36 months.
The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced an extension of the validity period for Permanent Resident Cards, commonly known as Green Cards, for lawful permanent residents who submit Form I-90. The new validity duration has been set at 36 months, providing additional time for individuals awaiting the renewal of their cards.
This policy change became effective on September 10, 2024, and USCIS indicates that it will assist applicants who file Form I-90 to renew their expiring or expired Green Cards. Previously, receipt notices for Form I-90 granted a 24-month extension of Green Card validity.
What benefits does it provide?
Green Card holders have the privilege of traveling to and from the United States; however, they must not remain outside the country for more than one year, as doing so will result in the expiration of their Green Card, necessitating a new application process.
According to the new policy, individuals can present notices of card extension alongside an expired Green Card as evidence of their ongoing legal status in the United States. This documentation also functions as employment authorization while awaiting the new card issuance.
For those who have lost their Green Card and require proof of their lawful permanent resident status, USCIS advises reaching out to their Field Office. The organization states, “If you require confirmation of your status while holding up for the substitution, you can inquire for a course of action at the USCIS Contact Middle. After recording Shape I-90, we may issue you an Pariah Documentation, Recognizing verification, and Broadcast Communications (ADIT) stamp.”
When considering the renewal of your Permanent Resident Card, the timing is contingent upon the validity period of your card. You should initiate the renewal process if your card, valid for 10 years, has either expired or is set to expire within the next six months.
If your card is valid for 36 years (since September 10, 224), this indicates that you hold conditional resident status. In this scenario, it is necessary to submit a petition to remove the conditions on your residency prior to the expiration of your card. This petition can be filed as early as 90 days before the expiration date of your conditional green card.
Upon approval of your petition, you will receive a new card that is valid for 10 years, and there will be no requirement to submit Form I-90. Furthermore, if your card does not display an expiration date on the front, it is likely an outdated version that may no longer be valid. In such instances, USCIS advises that you apply for a renewal of your card, even in the absence of an expiration date.
When is it fundamental to get a substitution for your Lasting Inhabitant card?
There are particular circumstances that necessitate the replacement of your card.
These situations include:
- Any changes required to the information appeared on the card.
- Instances where the card has been lost, stolen, or damaged.
Additionally, if you became a permanent resident prior to reaching the age of 14, you must replace your card upon turning 14.
What is the waiting period for Green Card holders?
The extension is designed to mitigate prolonged processing times. However, despite this adjustment, many applicants still experience slow processing, as green cards continue to be associated with lengthy waiting periods. According to a report from the Cato Organized, as it were roughly 3% of candidates are anticipated to get a green card in the Joined together States this year.
The demand is immense, with 34.7 million applications currently pending for the 2024 fiscal year. For context, only about 10 million applications were submitted in 1996. The US government anticipates approving around 1.1 million green card applications this year, resulting in a significant number of applicants remaining in a state of waiting.
Who is currently awaiting Green Cards?
A significant number of applicants are of Asian heritage, particularly Indian Americans, who represent a substantial segment of this group. Many of these individuals possess advanced degrees and play vital roles in industries such as technology, healthcare, and education.
Data from USCIS indicates that over one million Indians are in line for their Green Cards, with wait times that may extend for decades. The essential calculate contributing to these delays is the yearly cap on employment-based green cards, which is constrained to 140,000, along with a 7% cap per nation.
This backlog not only affects the applicants themselves but also their families, hindering their ability to obtain permanent residency and citizenship.
How many individuals currently possess Green Cards?
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) estimated that in 2022, there were approximately 12.9 million Green Card holders living in the United States. Among these, 9.2 million were eligible for citizenship; however, many remain entangled in the system due to prolonged wait times and processing delays.
The Covid-19 widespread briefly prevented affirmations, but numbers are presently on the rise. In 2022, over one million new Green Card holders were welcomed, and this upward trend is anticipated to persist.
A report by the National Foundation for American Policy (NFAP) indicated that more than 1.2 million Indians are presently waiting in the top three employment-based green card categories. These applicants predominantly come from high-demand fields such as technology, healthcare, and education, yet their applications often experience extensive delays due to per-country limitations.
The 7% cap excessively impacts countries like India, where there is a huge pool of talented experts. Despite the high demand for technology talent in the United States, many Indian immigrants encounter significant delays in obtaining permanent residency. The study highlighted that without legislative action, it could take nearly two centuries to resolve the backlog.
FAQ's
The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced an extension of the validity period for Permanent Resident Cards, commonly known as Green Cards, for lawful permanent residents who submit Form I-90. The new validity duration has been set at 36 months, providing additional time for individuals awaiting the renewal of their cards.
Green Card holders have the privilege of traveling to and from the United States; however, they must not remain outside the country for more than one year, as doing so will result in the expiration of their Green Card, necessitating a new application process.
According to the new policy, individuals can present notices of card extension alongside an expired Green Card as evidence of their ongoing legal status in the United States. This documentation also functions as employment authorization while awaiting the new card issuance.
The extension is designed to mitigate prolonged processing times. However, despite this adjustment, many applicants still experience slow processing, as green cards continue to be associated with lengthy waiting periods. According to a report from the Cato Organized, as it were roughly 3% of candidates are anticipated to get a green card in the Joined together States this year.
The demand is immense, with 34.7 million applications currently pending for the 2024 fiscal year. For context, only about 10 million applications were submitted in 1996. The US government anticipates approving around 1.1 million green card applications this year, resulting in a significant number of applicants remaining in a state of waiting.
