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If you are a permanent resident who travels outside the United States, you may need to renew your green card. Find out how to renew your green card if you travel.
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Introduction
If you are a permanent resident of the United States, you may travel outside of the country as long as you have a valid green card. If you plan to be outside of the United States for more than one year, you will need to obtain a reentry permit before leaving. If you are going to be absent from the United States for more than two years, you will need to apply for a new Green card.
Applying for a Green Card
If you travel outside the United States, you will need to apply for a Green Card if you want to return. You can do this by filing Form I-90 with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
You should apply for a Green Card as soon as you know you will be traveling. It can take several months to get a Green Card, so you don’t want to wait until the last minute. You will need to have your Green Card with you when you return to the United States.
You will need to show USCIS that you meet the eligibility requirements for a Green Card. You will also need to pay a filing fee and submit photographs with your application. Once USCIS has received your application, they will send you a receipt notice. The receipt notice will have information on how to check the status of your application online or by phone.
USCIS will review your application and decide if you are eligible for a Green Card. If USCIS approves your application, they will send you a green card. If USCIS denies your application, they will send you a written notice explaining why your application was denied and what you can do if you disagree with the decision.
Renewing Your Green Card
If you are a permanent resident of the United States, you will be issued a green card (officially known as a Permanent Resident Card, or Form I-551). This card allows you to live and work in the U.S. indefinitely.
However, if you travel outside the United States for extended periods of time, your green card may expire while you are gone. If this happens, you will need to apply for a new green card when you return to the U.S.
Here is what you need to know about renewing your green card if you travel:
1. If your green card expires while you are outside the United States, you will need to apply for a new one when you return.
2. You can apply for a new green card up to six months before it expires.
3. If your green Card has already expired you can still apply for a new one, but you will need to provide additional documentation to show that you remained eligible for permanent residency during the time it was expired.
4. You will need to fill out an application (Form I-90), pay the application fee, and submit any required documentation.
5. Once your application is approved, you will be issued a new green card that is valid for 10 years.
What to Do If Your Green Card Is Lost or Stolen
If you are a lawful permanent resident of the United States (green card holder), it is important to keep your green card with you at all times. If your green card is lost or stolen, you should report the loss or theft to the local police and to the nearest U.S. consulate or embassy as soon as possible. You will need to file a police report, in addition to filing Form I-90, Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card, with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). You may also need to provide additional documentation, such as a copy of your original green card or your naturalization certificate.
Traveling on a Green Card
If you are a legal permanent resident of the United States (green card holder), you are allowed to travel outside of the country and return, as long as you have your green card with you. However, there are some things to keep in mind if you plan on traveling while green card holder.
First, if you are planning to be gone for more than a year, you will need to get what is called a “re-entry permit” before you leave. This permit essentially gives permission for you to leave the country and return, and it is valid for up to two years. You can apply for a re-entry permit by filing form I-131 with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
Second, even if you have a re-entry permit, if you are gone from the United States for more than two years, your green card will be automatically cancelled. In order to prevent this from happening, you can apply for what is called a “travel document” before you leave. This document allows you to extend the length of time that you can be away from the United States while still maintaining your green card status. You can apply for a travel document by filing form I-131 with USCIS.
And finally, even if you have a re-entry permit and a travel document, if you are gone from the United States for more than five years, your green card will be automatically cancelled. In order to prevent this from happening, you must apply for what is called a “returning resident visa” before you leave. This visa allows individuals who have been away from the United States for longer than five years to return and resume their status as legal permanent residents. You can apply for a returning resident visa by filing form DS-117 with the Department of State.
Reentering the United States After Travel
Before you travel outside the United States, it’s important to make sure your green card is up to date. You can renew your green card if it has expired or will expire while you are outside the United States. The process is the same whether you are inside or outside the United States.
First, you will need to gather the required documents. These include your expired green card, a passport-style photo, a copy of your travel itinerary, and proof of identity and residency. Once you have these items, you will need to submit them to the nearest US Consulate or Embassy.
Next, you will be asked to attend an interview at the consulate or embassy. During this interview, a consular officer will verify your identity and residency and ask questions about your trip. Once the interview is complete, you will be given a new green card that is valid for 10 years.
Applying for a New Green Card
If you are a lawful permanent resident of the United States (i.e. have a “green card”), you are free to travel outside of the country, but you will need to take certain steps to renew your green card if you plan to stay outside of the U.S. for more than a year. The process for renewing your green card is relatively simple, but it is important to follow the steps carefully in order to avoid any delays or problems.
Here are the steps you need to take in order to renew your green card if you travel:
1) Complete the Application for Renewal of Permanent Resident Card (Form I-90). This form is available for free on the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) website.
2) Gather required supporting documents. In addition to the completed Form I-90, you will need to submit copies of your passport, green card, and any other travel documents that you have (e.g. visa, re-entry permit). You will also need to include two passport-style photographs with your application.
3) Pay the filing fee. The current filing fee for Form I-90 is $455, plus an additional $85 biometrics fee (totaling $540). You can pay this fee online or by check or money order made out to the “Department of Homeland Security”.
4) Mail your application package. Once you have gathered all of the required documents and fees, you can mail your application package to the USCIS Service Center that serves your area of residence. You can find the address of the relevant Service Center on the USCIS website. Your package will be processed and a new green card will be mailed to you within approximately 6-8 weeks from when it is received by USCIS
Changing Your Address
It’s important to keep your address updated with the USCIS. You can do this by filling out a Change of Address form (I-90) and mailing it to the USCIS. You can also update your address online or by calling the USCIS Contact Center.
If you move, you should update your address with the USCIS as soon as possible. You can do this by filling out a Change of Address form (I-90) and mailing it to the USCIS. You can also update your address online or by calling the USCIS Contact Center.
Keeping your address up to date with the USCIS is important because:
-The USCIS will use your new address to send you correspondence, including notifications and requests for evidence
-Your new address will be used to determine whether you meet certain residency requirements
-If you move without updating your address, you may not receive important correspondence from the USCIS, which could result in delays in processing your case or missing a deadline
Surrendering Your Green Card
If you are a permanent resident of the United States (holder of a “green card”), you should carry your green card with you whenever you travel outside the United States. If you plan to be outside the United States for more than one year, or if you plan to apply for naturalization, you must obtain a reentry permit or returning resident visa from a U.S. consulate before leaving the United States.
If you do not have a reentry permit or returning resident visa, and you are gone for more than one year, or if you abandon your residency, you will have to apply for a new immigrant visa in order to return to the United States as a permanent resident.
If your green card expires while you are outside the United States, it will not automatically be renewed. You must apply for a new green card from a U.S. consulate abroad, unless you qualify for an exception.
You may surrender your green card at any time by submitting it to a U.S. consular officer when applying for an immigrant or nonimmigrant visa, when entering the United States at a port-of-entry, or when changing status while in the United States. You may also submit your green card to USCIS if you wish to cancel your permanent residency status (voluntary relinquishment).
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Do I need to renew my Green Card if I travel outside the United States?
2. How do I renew my Green Card if I am outside the United States?
3. How do I renew my Green Card if I am inside the United States?
4. What is the fee to renew my Green Card?
5. How long does it take to renew my Green Card?
6. Where do I send my application to renew my Green Card?
7. Can I travel while my application to renew my Green Card is pending?
8. What if my Green Card expires while I am outside the United States?
9. What if my Green Card expires while I am inside the United States?
