What is a Green Card?
To live and work in the US legally, you need a Permanent Resident Status. The ID card it says that you are US permanent Resident is a permanent resident card (Green Card). Most cases, Green Card is valid for 10 years. Permanent residents are required to renew the card before the expiry date. The renewal process can start 6 months prior to the expiry date.
My 10-year Renewal Process
I am a permanent resident in the US. Expiry date on my permanent resident card (Green Card) is Dec. 9 in 2021. So I filed Form I-90, Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card with US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) along with the USD540 check for a $455 filing fee and an $85 biometrics fee (for my fingerprint, photo, and signature).
USCIS received the form and the check on July 6 2021. They sent me I-797, which is called NOTICE OF ACTION and a notice saying that it is not necessary to appear at a USCIS Application Center as they reuse my past biometrics because of the covid pandemic. However, there is no refund for the biometric fee, of course.
The I-797C Notice of Action, instructs me to log on and confirm my account with them within 90 days. I did so right away.
Never Arriving Green Card
It has been over 13 months since then. I am writing this on Aug 29 in 2022. Statement in my USCIS account remains the same “Your next milestone: receive your case decision” over 10 months.
Notice says that I am a lawful permanent resident for 12 months after the expiry date on my green card. US Embassy in Japan says that the status is valid for 2 years after the expiry date. For the time being, my card is valid for 2 years after the expiry? Anyway I didn’t expect the process takes this long …
Some Received Renewed Card Quick
My CPA did the same Green Card renewal process in Jan this year. He received his renewed Green card within one month from his renewal application. It was almost the same time that took for my previous 10-year renewal . Yes I traveled out of the US often… Immigration people says it is taking over year due to the pandemic… Is there anyone like me?