Earlier this month, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services automatically extended the validity of green cards to 3 years for lawful permanent residents filing Form I-90, Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card or green card.
Eligible individuals who hold green cards and submit the form to renew them before or after their green card expires can receive this additional extension. Previously, the extension was limited to 2 years, or 24 months.
USCIS has since updated Form I-90 to reflect the newly updated green card extension period, which is now 3 years or 36 months from when a green card expires.
Individuals who file an I-90 and are approved for an extension will receive a receipt they can show with their expired green card as evidence of lawful status while USCIS processes their permanent resident card application, which is taking longer than expected.
If you do not have a physical copy of your green card and are waiting for a replacement card, you must request valid documentation from USCIS to receive an alternate document or stamp that can be used as evidence of lawful status and employment authorization.
Immigration laws change often. If you qualify for an extension and want to request one or have any other questions about your immigration case, it is imperative to seek professional guidance from an immigration attorney.