U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)

How to apply for a green card renewal

1. Create a USCIS online account.
2. Complete Form I-90.
3. Upload required evidence, such as a copy of your expired or soon-to-expire green card.
4. Review and digitally sign your application.
5. Pay the government fees (if required).
6. Submit your application, and wait for your new green card.

To apply to renew or replace your card, use Form I-90, Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card. Filing instructions and forms are available on our Web site at www.uscis.gov.

1 year

Permanent residents are ordinarily eligible for Social Security benefits if they have accrued 40 credits (equivalent to ten years of work or 40 quarters). Social Security benefits include retirement payments, disability benefits, and survivors’ benefits (for the survivors of deceased workers).

Citizenship is the highest individual status in the U.S. hierarchy. Lawful permanent residence is usually considered the necessary first step to achieving U.S. citizenship. A permanent resident can stay in the U.S. indefinitely, but he/she remains the lawful citizen of another country.

one year

As a permanent resident or conditional permanent resident you can travel outside the United States for up to 6 months without losing your green card.

Although a green card doesn’t entitle you to a U.S. passport, it does mean that you can come and go freely from the United States and U.S. territories like Puerto Rico. And if you’re out of the U.S. for more than two years, you’ll need a returning resident visa to re-enter the country.