Wiganer

My Green card is good until 2011, so got a bit of time on my hands before it runs out.

How difficult is it to renew a green card and how much time should I give myself and are there any things that I need to be aware of?

Is it a pretty straight forward process, is it costly and can it be done over the internet ?

Cheers

fatbrit

Why bother? Naturalize and get it over with.

Wiganer

I may, but would still like to understand the process of renewing my green card.

Bob

www.uscis.gov and check the faq's...it's not hard, might take a year, probably cost a couple hundred, knowing them *lol*

Jerseygirl

Wow...you believe in forward planning don't you?

Wiganer

ROFL.

Well, let's just say I don't want any surprises. I know it might take a year so basically I have a few years to sit on it then I need to get my behind into gear.

silvermine

basically what happens is when you go to renew they will put a sticker on the back of your old GC (the one you are renewing) extending it for 3 months if i recall. the new card may take upwards of a year to get back. if your old card is again going to expire after the sticker is put on and you need to travel, you can get a further extension sticker put on it...
oh and you will need to go and see the kind folks at the USCIS to do all this.

TruBrit

hiya, i just renewed my 10 yr g.card a couple of mths ago and from start to finish took about 4 weeks....no probs, all done online except for biometrics appt...the link bob gave you is the way forward however rules/regs can change and so who knows what'll be happening in 2011

leedsPaddy

No offence wigan lady, I would love for some one to explain to me why on earth someone like yourself would even contemplate renewing your green card when you have the opportunity of going for citizenship and never having to deal with US immigration again. Please tell me the benefit of always being under some kind of restriction when it comes to the USCIS whether it be the amount of time you spend out of the US or having to keep them informed of a change of address or having to renew the green card. Also as a green card holder, you are still eligible to be deported if you misbehave and who knows what tight restrictions or new laws they will bring in, in the future to make your life more difficult. Granted, what I have said is rare and unlikely to happen but the prospect of having to continue dealing with the bureaucracy within the USCIS was enough to convince me to get my citizenship. In addition, I wanted to vote and work for the bureacracy. One question: if your ultimate goal wasn't to get citizenship then why are you here?

TouristTrap

People move to countries only in order to get citizenship?

JAJ

If your plan is to settle permanently in a country (especially a western country), why would you not want to be a citizen?

Jaxbar

Because maybe not everyone plans to settle permanently or even knows what the future will hold. I am taking it one step at a time. If I am still here when the citizenship issue comes around and it seems the right thing to do for me then maybe I'll do it.

Jerseygirl

We have lived in the US for over 10 yrs, GC holders for 8 yrs...we applied for citizenship a couple of weeks ago. For me it was a huge decision to make...not one of convenience.

paddingtongreen

I don't really understand any reluctance to become a citizen, it's not a lifetime commitment and you don't lose your British citizenship. I know that they still go through the motions to get you to renounce allegience, but when they tried to enforce it in a case, the Supreme Court ruled against the government.

Elvira

Not a lifetime commitment???