Earlier this year, USCIS announced a change that should help lawful permanent residents (LPR) whose application to renew their green card (technically known as an I-551 card) is subject to a tardy adjudication period. LPRs whose green card will expire within 6 months may apply to renew the card by filing Form I-90. Regrettably, USCIS reports that current adjudication times for renewals range from 7 months to longer than a year. LPRs whose green card expires before the issuance of the renewal have been able to take steps to obtain evidence of their continuing status, including waiting for USCIS to provide them with an extension sticker to place on the card or by obtaining an I-551 stamp in their passports.
Under the new rule, however, LPRs will be able to show their facially-expired green card along with formal evidence that the renewal application is in place, a revised Form I-797. Those two documents, used in conjunction, provide continuing evidence of the person’s LPR status, up to twelve months, and including for Form I-9 purposes and international travel.
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