One aspect of having a Green Card is that the cards eventually expire and need to be replaced. This can be problematic, especially considering our current delays in immigration proceedings in the U.S. This issue will change this month, as the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has begun new proceedings for extending the validity of a permanent resident’s Green Card.

Form I-90

Typically, to replace an expired Green Card, the permanent resident needed to file Form I-90 and was issued a sticker by USCIS to place on their Green Card. Now, instead of filing Form I-90 and receiving a sticker, permanent residents will file Form I-797, which, when presented with the Green Card will extend the Green Card’s validity for one year from the date on the Green Card, thus serving as temporary proof that the Green Card holder is a lawful permanent resident.

Biometrics appointments

Green Card holders who are granted temporary evidence of their legal status in the U.S., rather than the sticker, do not have to have a biometric service appointment at an area Application Support Center. Due to USCIS delays in scheduling these appointments due to our current global health crisis, there is a backlog of about 1.3 million appointments waiting to be had. Waiting for an appointment became very problematic for those whose work permit would be interrupted, possibly jeopardizing their employment.

Learn more about Green Cards

This may be good news for many lawful permanent residents in Phoenix. This post does not contain legal advice. Those who want to learn more about immigration in the U.S. are encouraged to visit our website for further information.