A green card is issued to all permanent residents as proof that they are authorized to live and work in the United States. If you are a permanent resident age 18 or older, you are required to have a valid green card in your possession at all times. Current green cards are valid for 10 years, or 2 years in the case of a conditional resident, and must be renewed before the card expires.

A green card can be used to prove employment eligibility in the United States when completing the Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification. It can also be used to apply for a Social Security Card and a state issued driver’s license. A green card is valid for readmission to the United States after a trip abroad if you do not leave for longer than 1 year. If your trip will last longer than 1 year, a reentry permit is needed.

Section 264 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) states, "Every alien in the United States . . . shall be issued a certificate of alien registration or an alien registration receipt card in such form and manner and at such time as shall be prescribed under regulations . . .." It also says, "Every alien, eighteen years of age and over, shall at all times carry with him and have in his personal possession any certificate of alien registration or alien registration receipt card issued to him . . .. Any alien who fails to comply with [these provisions] shall be guilty of a misdemeanor ..." The specific requirements and procedures for applying to renew an expiring green card are contained in the Code of Federal Regulations [CFR] at 8 CFR section 264.5.

If you are a permanent resident whose 10-year green card has expired or will expire within the next 6 months, you may begin the renewal process by:

If you are outside the United States and your green card will expire within 6 months (but you will return within 1 year of your departure from the United States and before the card expires), you should file for your renewal card as soon as you return to the United States.

If you are outside of the United States when the card expires and you have not applied for the renewal card prior to your departure, you should contact the nearest U.S. Consulate, USCIS office, or U.S. port of entry before attempting to file Form I-90 for a renewal green card.

When to Renew a Green Card

You should renew your green card if you are a permanent resident with a Form I-551 valid for 10 years and the card is either expired or will expire within the next 6 months.

Note: If you are a conditional resident and your status is expiring, these instructions do not apply to you. In that case, you must use Form I-751, Petition to Remove the Conditions on Residence, to apply to remove the conditions on your permanent resident status.

How to Find Out The Status Of Your Application

You may check the status of your application online at My Case Status. Please remember that an e-filed receipt number may not be available through “My Case Status” for 72 hours. If you have immigration-related questions, you may call the USCIS National Customer Service Center (NCSC) at 1-800-375-5283. You should be prepared to provide the USCIS staff with specific information about your application, such as your receipt number, Alien Registration Number, name and date of birth.

How to Appeal If Your Application Is Denied

If your application for renewing your green card is denied, you will receive a letter that will tell you why the application was denied. You will not be allowed to appeal a negative decision. However, you may submit a motion to reopen or a motion to reconsider with the same office that made the unfavorable decision. By filing such a motion, you may ask the USCIS office to reexamine or reconsider its decision.

A motion to reopen must state the new facts that you would provide if your case is reopened and must include appropriate documentary evidence. A motion to reconsider must establish that the decision to deny your application was based on incorrect application of law or immigration policy, and further establish that the decision was incorrect based on the evidence in the file at the time the decision was made. For more information, see “How Do I Appeal the Denial of Petition or Application?” link to the right.

Versions of Green Card That Are No Longer Valid

If you have a previous version of the alien registration card (e.g., USCIS Form AR-3, Form AR-103 or Form I-151), you must replace it with a current green card.

Conditional Permanent Residence

A conditional permanent resident receives a green card valid for 2 years. In order to remain a permanent resident, a conditional permanent resident must file a petition to remove the condition during the 90 days before the card expires. The conditional card cannot be renewed. The conditions must be removed or you will lose your permanent resident status.

Green Card Through Family

Many people get Green Cards (become permanent residents) through family members. You may be eligible to get a Green Card as:

an immediate relative of a U.S. citizen, this includes spouses, unmarried children under the age of 21, and parents of U.S. citizen petitioners 21 or older
a family member of a U.S. citizen fitting into a preference category, this includes unmarried sons or daughters over the age of 21, married children of any age, and brothers and sisters of U.S. citizen petitioners 21 or older
a family member of a green card holder, this includes spouses and unmarried children of the sponsoring green card holder
a member of a special category, this can include battered spouse or child (VAWA), a K nonimmigrant, a person born to a foreign diplomat in the United States, a V nonimmigrant or a widow(er) of a U.S. Citizen

Information on fiance(e) visas or prospective adopted children is located in other sections of our website. Check the links provided for more.

Green Card Through a Job

Many people become permanent residents through a job or offer of employment. Some categories require a certification from the U.S. Department of Labor to show that there are not enough U.S. workers who are able, willing, qualified, and available in the geographic area where the immigrant is to be employed and that no American workers are displaced by foreign workers. In other cases, highly skilled workers, those with extraordinary ability in certain professions, and investors/entrepreneurs are given priority to immigrate through several immigrant categories. In all cases, the process involves several steps.

The main ways to immigrate based on a job offer or employment are listed below. For more information on the categories below, see the links to the left under “Green Card Through a Job.”

Green Card Through a Job Offer
You may be eligible to become a permanent resident based on an offer of permanent employment in the United States. Most categories require an employer to get a labor certification and then file a Form I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker, for you.

Green Card Through Investment
Green cards may be available to investors/entrepreneurs who are making an investment in an enterprise that creates new U.S. jobs.

Green Card Through Self Petition
Some immigrant categories allow you to file for yourself (“self-petition”). This option is available for either “Aliens of Extraordinary Ability” or certain individuals granted a National Interest Waiver.

Green Card Through Special Categories of Jobs
There are a number of specialized jobs that may allow you to get a green card based on a past or current job. All of these require a Form I-360, Petition for Amerasian, Widow(er), or Special Immigrant, and are described in Section 101(a)(27) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) (see the “INA” link to the right):

Afghan/Iraqi Translator
Broadcaster
International Organization Employee
Iraqi Who Assisted the U.S. Government
NATO-6 Nonimmigrant
Panama Canal Employee
Physician National Interest Waiver
Religious Worker

In some cases, you may be able to file the immigrant petition (either a Form I-140 or I-360, depending on your category) at the same time that you file Form I-485, known as “concurrent filing.” For more information, see the “Concurrent Filing” link to left under “Green Card Processes & Procedures.”

If you are not eligible to adjust your status inside the United States to a permanent resident, the immigrant petition will be sent to the U.S. consulate abroad to complete the visa process. In order to apply for a green card, there must be a visa immediately available to you. See the “Visa Availability & Priority Dates” link to left under “Green Card Processes & Procedures”.

Green Card Through Refugee or Asylee Status

Refugees and asylees can apply for a green card.

If you were

Then you may apply for permanent residence

admitted to the United States as:

a refugee
a qualifying family member of an asylee

1 year after your entry into the United States

granted asylum in the United States

1 year after the grant of your asylum status

Note: As a refugee, you are required by law to apply for permanent resident status 1 year after being admitted to the United States. As an asylee, you are not required to apply for permanent resident status after being granted asylum for 1 year, although it may be in your best interest to do so.

For more information on how refugees, asylees, and their family members can apply for green cards see the following links to the left:

Green Card for a Refugee

Explains the refugees eligibility criteria and application process for a green card.

Green Card for an Asylee

Explains the aslyees and their family members eligibility criteria and application process for a green card.

Other Ways to Get a Green Card

Although most immigrants come to live permanently in the United States through a family member’s sponsorship, employment, or a job offer, there are many other ways to get a green card (permanent residence).

These special adjustment programs are limited to individuals meeting particular qualifications and/or applying during certain time frames.

Amerasian Child of a U.S. Citizen
American Indian Born in Canada
Armed Forces Member
Cuban Native or Citizen
Diversity Immigrant Visa Program
Haitian Refugee
Help HAITI Act of 2010
Indochinese Parole Adjustment Act
Informant (S Nonimmigrant)
Lautenberg Parolee
Legal Immigration Family Equity (LIFE) Act
Person Born to Foreign Diplomat in United States
Registry
Section 13 (Diplomat)
Special Immigrant Juvenile
Victim of Criminal Activity (U Nonimmigrant)
Victim of Trafficking (T Nonimmigrant)
Nicaraguan and Central American Relief Act (NACARA)

Green Cards Through Special Categories of Jobs

Includes:

Afghan/Iraqi Translator
Broadcaster
International Organization Employee
Iraqi Who Assisted the U.S. Government
NATO-6 Nonimmigrant
Panama Canal Employee
Physician National Interest Waiver
Religious Worker

Green Cards Through Special Categories of Family

Includes:

Battered Spouse or Child (VAWA)
K Nonimmigrant (includes fiancé(e))
V Nonimmigrant
Widow(er)