Green Card Renewal Fee: The Correct Fee for Your Situation

Overview

As a United States lawful permanent resident, how much it costs to renew a green card is a common question, and the green card renewal fee depends on your specific situation. You are issued a green card (also called a permanent resident card). Your green card is the proof of your lawful status in the United States. It is the document that establishes your right to live and work in the U.S.

To renew a 10-year green card and understand the i90 fee, it is also important to review the documents needed to renew green card while considering how much does a green card cost before beginning the green card renewal online process. At the end of the 10-year period, you are required to apply for a green card renewal, by filing a Form I-90 with USCIS, which includes applicable USCIS green card filing fees. If you lost your green card, or if it is stolen, you are also required to apply for a new green card. To renew your green card, you must pay the correct green card renewal fee, which directly impacts how much does a green card cost in your situation. The correct green card renewal fee will depend on the reason that you are renewing your green card, which is important when determining how much is a green card in your situation

Generally speaking, there are 2 fees associated when you renew green card status:

• • I-90 Filing Fee: $455

• • Biometric Services Fee: $85

Depending on the reason you renew green card status, including cases involving a lost or stolen card and the applicable green card duplicate fee, the total amount you are responsible to pay may include one or both of these fees that make up the overall green card renewal fee. In some circumstances, you may not even be required to pay a fee.

I-90 Filing Fee

As mentioned earlier, to renew green card status, you are required to file a green card renewal application using Form I-90 with USCIS, and many people researching how much is a green card mistakenly confuse renewal costs with visa fees, even though green cards and visas are different under U.S. immigration law. The I-90 is the Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card. This form can be filed electronically through the USCIS website or by mail, and both options require payment of the applicable green card renewal fee. The I-90 filing fee is $455 and is a core part of the overall green card renewal fee, helping explain how much does a green card cost including payment of the green card duplicate fee when replacing a lost or damaged card.

Biometric Services Fee

In addition to the I-90 filing fee, you may also be required to pay a biometric services fee, which may increase the total green card renewal fee when you renew green card status. The biometric services fee is the fee required for USCIS to collect your digital fingerprints when you renew green card status through Form I-90, and it may impact your total green card renewal fee. The biometric services fee is $85 and may be included in the overall green card renewal fee, which affects how much does a green card cost depending on your case.

As mentioned earlier, the fee required to renew green card status will depend on your specific situation and the reason for filing Form I-90, which may affect the total green card renewal fee in your case. Depending on your situation, you may be required to pay: both the I-90 filing fee and the biometric services fee; just the biometric service fee; or neither of the 2 fees. To determine the appropriate green card renewal fee for your case, you should review the I-90 Instructions to confirm whether the I-90 filing fee applies before filing your application.

Green Card Renewal Fee Depending on the Situation (General Pointers)

Situations Where Both the I-90 Filing Fee and Biometric Services Fee are Required

• • Your existing green card is expired or will expire within 6 months

• • Your green card was lost, stolen, or destroyed

• • Your name has changed since your last green card was issued

• • You are a permanent resident taking up commuter status

• • You are a commuter who is now taking up actual residence in the U.S.

• • You turned 14 years old and your existing green card will expire before your 16^th birthday

Situations Where Neither the I-90 Filing Fee or the Biometric Services Fee are Required

• • Your current green card has incorrect information on it because of Department of Homeland Security error

• • Your green card was issued by USCIS, but you never received it (returned to USCIS as undeliverable)

Situation Where the I-90 Filing Fee is Not Required but the Biometric Services Fee is Required

• • You turned 14 years old and your current green card will expire after your 16^th

Working with an Immigration Lawyer

Incorrectly filing your application when you renew green card status can cause delays or, in some cases, denials, which may also affect how your green card renewal fee is applied or processed. U.S. immigration forms can be quite complicated, and mistakes may impact your application timeline as well as your total green card renewal fee. Working with an experienced immigration lawyer at Ashoori Law can help to reduce these risks. An immigration lawyer can also review your particular background to see if there are any risks associated with filing your Form I-90. For example, previous arrests, even if they did not result in a criminal conviction, can be problematic when applying for your green card renewal.

Conclusion

As a U.S. permanent resident, you are issued a green card, and many applicants often ask how much is a green card both for initial issuance and for renewal. This card is your proof of lawful status in the United States and is highly important. If your green card is set to expire within the next 6 months, or if you lose your green card and must pay the green card duplicate fee, you must file Form I-90 to renew green card status, either by mail or through green card renewal online.

There are generally 2 fees associated with renewing your green card, and together they make up the total green card renewal fee, helping clarify how much does a green card cost: the I-90 filing fee and the biometric services fee. Depending on your particular situation, you may be required to pay both of these fees, one of these fees, or neither of these fees.

It is important to review the I-90 instructions before you renew green card status to make sure that you submit the correct filing fee and include all documents needed to renew green card. If you have any questions, feel free to email me directly at contact@ashoorilaw.com.