US Proposed Green Card Replacement

Filed in archive Americas on August 23, 2007

The US Citizenship and Immigration Services published a proposed regulation on August 22, 2007, that would require US permanent residents with the older style of alien resident card (popularly called the "green card") to apply for a replacement card within 120 days of the new rule becoming effective. The new cards would expire in 10 years and could be renewed thereafter.

The proposed rule affects an estimated 750,000 permanent residents issued green cards without expiration dates between 1979 and 1989 (the USCIS has issued green cards with 10-year expiration dates since August 1989).

Note that this is only a proposed regulation, so there is no requirement to apply for a replacement now. The regulation is like to become final, however, and it might be faster to apply now and avoid the longer processing likely if and when the regulations becomes fine. The government fee is $370.

If the rule is approved, applications for replacement cards would have to be received by the USCIS within 120 days. Thereafter, the old cards would become invalid and violators risk a $100 fine and 30 days in jail.

The public comment period is until Sept. 21.

See How Do I Replace My Permanent Resident Card (Green Card)? for the official USCIS website on green card replacement and the USCIS press release for more information.