USCIS UPDATES POLICY TO AUTOMATICALLY EXTEND GREEN CARDS FOR NATURALIZATION APPLICANTS
On December 12, 2022, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS updated the USCIS Policy Manual, allowing USCIS to automatically extend the validity of Permanent Resident Cards (Green Cards) for lawful permanent residents who have applied for naturalization.
This change is aimed to help naturalization applicants who experience longer processing times. They will now receive an extension of lawful permanent resident (LPR) status and may not need to file Form I-90, Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card. LPRs who properly file Form N-400, Application for Naturalization, may receive this extension without regard to whether they filed Form I-90.
USCIS will update the language on Form N-400 receipt notices to extend Green Cards for up to 24 months for these applicants. The receipt notice can be presented with the expired Green Card as evidence of continued status as well as identity and employment authorization under List A of Employment Eligibility Verification (Form I-9), if presented before the expiration of the 24-month extension period provided in the notice.
The extension will apply to all applicants who file Form N-400 on or after Dec. 12, 2022. LPRs who filed for naturalization prior to Dec. 12 will not receive a Form N-400 receipt notice with the extension. If their Green Card expires, they generally must still file Form I-90 or receive an ADIT stamp in their passport, in order to maintain valid evidence of their lawful permanent resident status. Lawful permanent residents who lose their Green Card generally must still file Form I-90, even if they have applied for naturalization and received the automatic extension under this updated policy.
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