What Is a Green Card, Really?
A green card gives you legal permanent residency in the United States. That means you can live here, work here, and travel in and out of the country freely. You may have obtained your status through a family member, an employer, asylum, or another route. But here’s what most people don’t realize:
Your green card is not truly “permanent.”
Yes, your residency status is permanent — as long as you follow the rules — but your physical green card expires every 10 years, and it must be renewed.
What If I Don’t Renew My Green Card?
Here’s the important part: Not renewing your green card does not mean you lose your status. You are still a lawful permanent resident even if your card is expired.
But—and this is a big “but”—your expired green card can create major headaches in daily life. For example, you might not be able to:
- Renew your driver’s license
- Board a domestic or international flight
- Open a bank account
- Apply for a loan or mortgage
- Prove eligibility for employment
- Re-enter the U.S. after travel abroad
So while your status is still valid, your proof of that status is expired — and that causes problems.
The I-90 Form: Your Green Card Renewal Application
To renew your green card, you need to file Form I-90, which is the application to replace or renew your green card. It’s a relatively straightforward process if your record is clean and you haven’t violated immigration rules.
The process includes:
- Filing the form online or by mail
- Paying the government fee
- Attending a biometrics appointment (fingerprints and background check)
Note: There’s no interview involved unless there’s something unusual about your case.
What If I’m Applying for Citizenship?
Great question! Many clients think they don’t need to renew their green card because they’re planning to apply for naturalization.
Here’s the truth: USCIS technically allows people to apply for citizenship with an expired green card, especially due to delays in processing times. But don’t rely on this exception. I recommend renewing your card anyway so you have full legal documentation — in case something goes wrong or your case is delayed.
My Professional Recommendation
If your green card is set to expire within the next 6 months, file that I-90 now. It’s not that expensive, it doesn’t take much time, and the peace of mind is worth it.
Even if you’re applying for citizenship — renew your green card anyway. It’s better to be safe and have all your documents in order.
If you’ve lost your green card, had it stolen, or it expired years ago — don’t panic. Just file the I-90 and get it taken care of.
