New USCIS Policy to Automatically Extend Green Cards for Naturalization Applicants

New United States Citizenship and Immigration Service, “USCIS” policy will be allowing Legal Permanent Residents with an expiring or expired legal permanent resident card also known as a green card to file a naturalization application, form N-400 with USCIS without being required to file a green card replacement, extension application, form I-90.

Pervious to this policy change, naturalization applicants who did not apply for naturalization at least six months before the expiration of their green card expiration, were required to file form I-90 to extend the status of the expiring or expired green card.

Under this new policy, legal permanent residents who file a naturalization form N-400 with an expiring green card will receive a receipt notice extending their green cards for up to 24 months. This new policy will apply to any applicants who file their N-400 on or after December 12, 2022.

Finally, this receipt notice must be presented to show that the green card as proof of lawful permanent resident status has been extended, such as for purposes of employment or travel authorization. Also take note, that if the legal permanent resident has been issued a form N-400 receipt notice that automatically extended the validity of the green card, but the green card was lost or destroyed, then the form I-90 to renew the expiring green card must be filed.