Green card

[sharabang]

Hi everyone i haven't been here before , I was wondering if anyone could please answer a question!. I have been in this country 30 years and just recently heard about people having to get new green cards , I read on a government page where it said people with form 1-551 don't have to get new ones but it would be a good thing to consider for the future. Does anyone know if this is the case or do i in fact have to get one ?.

thanks
Sharon

[Rachel_Heath]

The Green Card - AKA The Permanent Resident Card is also AKA Form I551.

Each I551 is valid for 10 years at which point it simply needs to be renewed by using form I90. You can renew your card once your it reaches 6 months before expiry.

When was the last time you renewed your card?

More information can be located at How Do I Renew My Permanent Resident Card (Green Card)?.

[sharabang]

Hi rachel ,
I have never had to renew it ! until they created the homeland security office no one i know did .

[Rachel_Heath]

Sharon,

I have the info you require. It can be found here.

It looks like there was a 120 day window set back almost a year ago to allow people with cards issued before 1989 to get the new cards. There will be a cost (over $400) to get the new card.

Since you're outside this window I suggest you call the USCIS to find out what th ramifications are.

Hope this helps!

[sharabang]

My god $400 good lord !!!!. I wish the Uscis had sent out some kind of notice to us , my friend and i never got anything.

[sharabang]

BY the way thanks Rachel . They should have different rules for people who have been here as long as i have LOL :-). I;m from Scotland if your wondering , I married an American service man i think there's a whole set of other rules that i can also apply under at least according to the USCIS And i did call them they said nothing about the deadline.

[Rachel_Heath]

I did find the old INS particularly obtuse to deal with. After I moved I asked them should I notify them of my new address and they told me that there was no need and they had nowhere to annotate it - this was in late 2002.

I can only imagine the same folk moved over to the USCIS to continue the grand old tradition of providing little or no pertinent information.

Sigh...

[Rachel_Heath]

I also found this which may be helpful. Currently I'm unsure when the 120 window started (if it has). If I find anything else I'll let you know!

[sharabang]

You hit the nail on the head there, in 30yrs i have never known the government to do anything informative !

[sharabang]

Yep thats what mine looks like .i guess it depends on how quickly you need it This to me seems to say only if and when you want to.
Since the replacement program is only proposed, affected individuals are not yet required to replace their cards. However, they nevertheless may choose to apply now to replace their cards. Early applications may be processed in shorter times than those filed later, given the number of permanent residents affected.
USCIS Home Page