Green Card Renewal Fee: The Correct Fee for Your Situation

Overview

 

As a United States lawful permanent resident, 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.

 

The green card is typically issued for a period of 10 years. 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. If you lost your green card, or if it is stolen, you are also required to apply for a new green card. To renew you green card, you must pay the correct green card renewal fee. The correct fee will depend on the reason that you are renewing your green card.

 

Generally speaking, there are 2 fees associated with renewing your green card:

 

• I-90 Filing Fee: $455

 

• Biometric Services Fee: $85

 

Depending on the reason you are renewing your green card, you may be responsible to pay one or both of these fees. In some circumstances, you may not even be required to pay a fee.

 

I-90 Filing Fee

 

As mentioned earlier, to apply for a green card renewal, you are required to file a Form I-90 with USCIS. The I-90 is the Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card. This form can be filed electronically, or it can be filled out and mailed to USCIS. The I-90 filing fee is $455.

 

Biometric Services Fee

 

In addition to the I-90 filing fee, you may also be required to pay a biometric services fee. The biometric services fee is the fee required for USCIS to collect your digital fingerprints. The biometric services fee is $85.

 

As mentioned earlier, the green card renewal fee you are required to pay will depend on your specific situation. 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 prior to 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

 

Depending on your particular situation, you may wish to have your green card renewal filed by an immigration lawyer. U.S. immigration forms can be quite complicated. Incorrectly filing your green card renewal application can cause delays or, in some cases, denials. Working with an experienced immigration lawyer 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. 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, you are required to apply for a new green card by filing a Form I-90.

 

There are generally 2 fees associated with renewing your green card: 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 filing your green card renewal application to make sure that you file everything properly and submit the correct filing fee. If you have any questions, feel free to email me directly at Michael@AshooriLaw.com.