Green Card Renewal Processing Time: Standard and Expedited Processing

Once you become a United States lawful permanent resident, you are issued a green card. Your green card (also called a lawful permanent resident card), is proof of your status as a lawful permanent resident.

A green card is a highly important document and failure to maintain a valid green card can result in a misdemeanor, government fines, and potentially even jail time. Typically, a green card is issued for a 10-year period and then expires. Before your green card expires, you are eligible to apply for a green card renewal.

In this guide, I’ll discuss the green card renewal processing time. I will also discuss expedited processing of a green card renewal application.

If you have any questions, please feel free to email me directly at contact@ashoorilaw.com. I’d be happy to assist you.

1. Green Card Renewal Processing Time (Step-by-Step)

Issuance of Receipt Notice by USCIS (1 to 3 Weeks from Filing Date)

To renew green card status and understand the I-90 processing time, you must first submit Form I-90 with USCIS, which is the official application for green card renewal and this process is separate from EB1 visa requirements. The I-90 is the Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card. Once USCIS receives and accepts your I-90 application for those learning how to renew green card status, USCIS will issue you a receipt notice. The receipt notice verifies that USCIS has received your application and contains a unique receipt number that you can use to track your case and monitor your i90 processing time through the online USCIS Case Status tool.

Biometrics Appointment Notice (4 to 6 Weeks from Filing Date)

A few weeks after you receive your receipt notice from USCIS, you will then receive a biometrics appointment notice. As part of how to renew green card status, you must attend a biometrics appointment. The biometrics appointment is where your digital fingerprints are taken. Your biometrics appointment notice will specify the date, time, and location of the biometrics appointment, but scheduling delays may occur due to an I-90 processing time increase. The biometrics appointment notice will also identify what you need to bring with you to the biometrics appointment. This notice also provides you with instructions on how to reschedule your biometrics appointment if you need to do so.

Actual Biometrics Appointment Date (6 to 8 Weeks from Filing Date)

Your actual biometrics appointment will be scheduled to take place roughly 2 weeks after the biometrics notice is issued, though this may vary depending on any I-90 processing time increase and is separate from EB1 visa requirements. At the biometrics appointment, you will have your digital fingerprints taken. You will need to take a valid I.D. as well as the actual biometrics notice, with you to the biometrics appointment.

Issuance of the New Green Card (6 to 10 Months from Filing Date)

Following the biometrics appointment, USCIS will continue processing your application to renew green card status, and this stage makes up a significant portion of the overall I-90 processing time increase, regardless of how many times can you renew your green card under U.S. immigration law. Your new green card USA should be issued within a few months, which helps answer how long does green card take to arrive, bringing the total processing time to anywhere from 6 to 10 months.

2. USCIS Link to Check Current Processing Times

If you are researching processing timelines, USCIS provides an online tool where you can check current processing times and monitor any I-90 processing time increase. You can access this resource here. In the space for Form, select “I-90.” For the field office or service center, select “Potomac Service Center.”

3. Expedited Processing: Speeding up the Process

In certain situations, USCIS offers expedited processing for applicants learning how to renew green card status. USCIS has the authority to decide whether or not to expedite a case. If a case is approved for expedited processing, standard processing times do not apply, the case can be processed much faster. Here is a link to the USCIS expedite criteria.

Here are some reasons USCIS may grant expedited processing of a case:

• Humanitarian Reasons

• Compelling USCIS Interest

• Severe Financial Loss to Company or Person

• USCIS Error

• Emergency Situation

4. Conclusion

Upon becoming a U.S. permanent resident, you are issued a green card. A green card is typically issued for a 10-year period and then expires. Before your green card expires, you should renew green card status by filing Form I-90 with USCIS. The average processing time is about 6 to 10 months total from the date of filing Form I-90, although an I-90 processing time increase may extend this timeframe in certain cases. In certain cases, USCIS may expedite this process.

If you have any questions, or if you need assistance with your green card renewal, you may consider consulting an experienced immigration law firm for guidance and please feel free to email me directly at contact@ashoorilaw.com. I would be happy to help you.

Resources:

• Green Card Renewal: How to Renew Your Green Card

• USCIS Processing Times

• USCIS Expedite Criteria