You are allowed to travel abroad even if your Green Card renewal application is pending. When you file the Green Card Renewal Form I-90, the USCIS will verify your application and once verified the USCIS will attach a sticker to your expiring or expired Green Card to extend its validity. The Green Card with a sticker serves as a proof of your lawful permanent resident status until you get a renewed Green Card valid for ten years. The Green Card with the sticker represent that you had applied for Green Card renewal. The sticker on your card is sufficient to establish that you are a permanent resident of the United States. While you are outside the United States remember that you may not be able to file USCIS Forms I-90, if your Green Card expired. You can contact the nearest US Consulate before filing Form I-90. It is recommended that you file a Green Card renewal application before leaving the country if you discover that your Green Card is about to expire.
Green Cards are valid only for ten years, Therefore, those cards must be renewed before the expiration date. It is important to hold a valid permanent resident card because it is the one that proves your legal resident status in the country. If you have filed Form I-90, for Green Card renewal/ Renovación De Green Card, you can travel abroad and return to the United States with the temporary stamp on your Card. The stamp is valid only for one year. While you can re-enter the United States with an expired Green Card, however, you will have to bear a long waiting times at the US port of entry, during the inspection process. To avoid such delays it is better to file an application to renew your Green Card before leaving the country so that, at the US port of entry inspection booth you carry the temporary documentation you received while applying for Green Card renewal.
If you travel without applying for green card renewal, you must prepare a valid reason why you let your Green Card expired, proper identity documents and you must convince the immigration officer. Generally the USCIS process the Green Card renewal and approve the applications within five months from the date of your application.
After your travel, to prove that you are eligible to re-enter in the country, you are required to present your Green Card with a sticker at the US port of entry along with other identity credentials such as foreign national identification card, US Driver’s License, etc. Consequently, you can travel while your Green Card renewal application is pending.
For details please visit immigrationdirect.com
Green Cards are valid only for ten years, Therefore, those cards must be renewed before the expiration date. It is important to hold a valid permanent resident card because it is the one that proves your legal resident status in the country. If you have filed Form I-90, for Green Card renewal/ Renovación De Green Card, you can travel abroad and return to the United States with the temporary stamp on your Card. The stamp is valid only for one year. While you can re-enter the United States with an expired Green Card, however, you will have to bear a long waiting times at the US port of entry, during the inspection process. To avoid such delays it is better to file an application to renew your Green Card before leaving the country so that, at the US port of entry inspection booth you carry the temporary documentation you received while applying for Green Card renewal.
If you travel without applying for green card renewal, you must prepare a valid reason why you let your Green Card expired, proper identity documents and you must convince the immigration officer. Generally the USCIS process the Green Card renewal and approve the applications within five months from the date of your application.
After your travel, to prove that you are eligible to re-enter in the country, you are required to present your Green Card with a sticker at the US port of entry along with other identity credentials such as foreign national identification card, US Driver’s License, etc. Consequently, you can travel while your Green Card renewal application is pending.
For details please visit immigrationdirect.com
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