BigDavyG

This came up during a conversation I had at lunchtime today...
Say someone entered the US perfectly legally, has been here for 30+ years but forgot to renew their green card a few years back - what is their current legal status ??
Can they just apply to have the card renewed now, or will there be complications as the old card expired years ago ??

Just curious as this isn't something that I'd thought about before.

Celsius

I believe older GCs didn't have an expiration date. I think there's no expiration date on GC cards issued between 1979-1988.

Jerseygirl

A friend of mine has been here for 30+ yrs and has to renew her GC every 10 yrs.

BigDavyG

I think this person is similar except they haven't got round to renewing for a few years.
They started a new job recently and showed their GC to their new employer who pointed out that it had expired, but didn't seem to care anyway - I'm just wondering what the law says about this.

Celsius

Q. Do I need to renew my Green Card if it was issued between 1979 and 1988 and does not have an expiration date?

A. No. Green Cards issued between 1979 and 1988 do not have expiration dates and do not need to be renewed at this time. INS will develop an orderly plan for replacing these cards at a future time. (Note: If you obtained your Green Card before your 14th birthday and are now over 14, and your Green Card does not have an expiration date on it, you will still need to get a new card. You will need to go to your local INS District or Sub-Office—not an Application Support Center—and File a Form I-90, “Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card.” However, you will not need to pay the $130 application fee. You will only need to pay the $50 fingerprinting fee.)

came from http://www.uscis.gov/graphics/public...EENCARD_QA.htm

clydegirl

The old ones don't have an expiration date. Mine was 20 years old and a nice lady at immigration advised me to get a new one :scared:
They're going to eventually get round to everyone having the new 10 year ones. May take a while.

Celsius

Q. What will happen if I present an expired Green Card when I try to reenter the United States after traveling abroad, or when I obtain a new job, or when I apply for entitlement benefits?

Obtaining employment: While employers will not accept an expired Green Card to verify employment authorization for new hires, you may use other documents listed on the Form I-9 (Employment Eligibility Verification Form), or the temporary proof of status you received when you submitted your renewal application.

from the same page I refered to earlier.

Jerseygirl

My friend came here as a student and is now in her late 50's and she has just renewed her GC, so maybe her original GC has an expiry date on it.

Jerseygirl

When we came here in 1996 she told me she had just been to Newark to get her GC renewed. So she has definitely renewed it every 10 yrs.

syllk

If the green card expires, you're still hold LPR status.

BigDavyG

So that begs the question - what is the point of the card ??

Jerseygirl

Yeah but, no but, yeah but, no but.......I assumed if it expired you would be here illegally.......a bit like driving with an expired licence. Try explaining that to Officer Dibble. :scared:

BigDavyG

Me too, which is why I asked the question in the first place.
Its not a biggie, but i was just interested to find out.

ladygwennie

I think just because the card expires, doesn't mean ur status does. At least that is what i have been told.

Rete

Their status has not changed. Even with an expired green card they are still permanent residents as long as they have not violated any the requirements that govern residency. Yes, they can file an I-90 for a new card.

The card, unlike a driver's license, is only paperproof of your status. You cannot drive without a DL but you can live in the US with an expired GC.