It’s important that you keep your Green Card (also known as a Permanent Resident Card) up to date. It is important that you keep your Green Card up to date, as this can be used as proof that you are a lawful permanent resident. If you don’t have a Green Card, then you can’t prove to anyone that you are authorised to live and work permanently in the United States, and this is something that you should try to avoid. To avoid this situation from happening, this article will discuss three things that you need to be made aware of involving your Green Card….
Have You Lost Your Card or Has it Been Stolen?
If you lose your Green Card or it has been stolen whilst in the United States, then don’t panic as you won’t have been the first person that this has happened to. It is simple to replace – all you need to do is file a Form 1-90 to get an application to Replace Resident Card as soon as possible. It might take up to six months to replace though so this is something which you will need to bear in mind, particularly if you are planning on starting a new job or want to travel abroad.
Losing your card does not mean that you’ve lost your permanent residence though, it’s just an issue if you are planning on travelling at some point. If you need to travel and have not received your Green Card, then you can just make an appointment with your local USCIS office. You can request a 1-551 stamp in your passport, and this is temporary proof of your permanent residence, so you should be able to travel.
Has Your Card Ran Out of Date?
If your Green Card has expired and you are planning on travelling soon but feel like you won’t have time to replace it then don’t panic, you can get a temporary one as described in the previous paragraph. An expired Green Card is a problem that many people have to deal with, just because you have a Green Card, does not mean that you use it every day, so it’s no surprise if it expires, since you’ll probably forget to check it.
By law, permanent residents must carry a valid Green Card with them at all time, but in practice this rarely happens. The problem is that very little can be done without your Green Card. If you are trying to get a new job, want to get a professional license, plan on re-entering the United States, want to buy a house or just want to renew your driving license, then you will struggle to do this. So, make sure you keep your card up to date. You could always place a reminder in your phone six/eight months before your card runs out if that helps.
Has Your Card been Issued with Incorrect Data?
This is something that you should notice straight away. If your card has been issued with the incorrect data (your name, date of birth, issued date) due to an USCIS administrative error. If this happens then you need to make sure that you get it fixed as soon as you can. You need to make them aware that there was an error. Make sure you give them the right data.
Also, if you change your name, or other biographic information have been legally changed, then you need to replace your Green Card. Your Green Card is really important so you should make sure that you look after it and keep it updated. You don’t want to lose it or have it expire on you when you need it most. If you are planning on moving sometime soon though, and would like to get a Green Card, then you should check out this article here explaining how an immigration lawyer could help you.
Hi there! I’m Sethu, your go-to guy for all things tech, travel, internet, movies, and business tips. I love sharing insights and stories that make life more interesting. Let’s explore the world together, one article at a time!
Great article! I’ve been looking to replace my resident card as it just has expired!