Can I apply for Green Card Renewal Six months and 20 days prior to expiry?

[forex70]

My green card is expiring and I will be travelling for an extended time in 25 days; I would like to apply for green card renewal now about Six months and 20 days prior to expiry so that I can get biometrics prior to my trip and get it over with. In all forms it says six months, would be a problem to apply six months and 20 days instead of six months?

thanks

 

[Jackolantern]

You could apply early and see what happens, but according to the rules you may be denied if you apply when your expiration date is not within 6 months.

A workaround strategy which avoids that risk would be to apply for a reentry permit now, then apply for GC renewal sometime after you return to the US. A reentry permit is normally valid for 2 years, and can be used to reenter the US even if your GC is expired or lost. And the reentry permit is a multiple-use document, so for travel purposes you wouldn't need to renew the GC for the next 2 years (unless another country you'll visit requires you to have a valid GC before they issue you a visa or let you enter without a visa).

The permit can be delivered to your US address, or to a US consulate in the country of your choosing where you'd pick it up when it's ready.

Note that you must be in the US when you file the reentry permit application, including when USCIS receives it, and the reentry permit requires biometrics.

 

[forex70]

Thanks for reply but another point

You could apply early and see what happens, but according to the rules you may be denied if you apply when your expiration date is not within 6 months.

A workaround strategy which avoids that risk would be to apply for a reentry permit now, then apply for GC renewal sometime after you return to the US. A reentry permit is normally valid for 2 years, and can be used to reenter the US even if your GC is expired or lost. And the reentry permit is a multiple-use document, so for travel purposes you wouldn't need to renew the GC for the next 2 years (unless another country you'll visit requires you to have a valid GC before they issue you a visa or let you enter without a visa).

The permit can be delivered to your US address, or to a US consulate in the country of your choosing where you'd pick it up when it's ready.

Note that you must be in the US when you file the reentry permit application, including when USCIS receives it, and the reentry permit requires biometrics.

Well, thanks for your reply, I appreciate it but I already have a reentry permit which is also expiring at the same time as GC so not sure if I should or can apply for another one when this current one is valid for another 6 months. It is difficult to anticipate these things, do you think I can request for expediting biometrics?

 

[Jackolantern]

You can renew a reentry permit that has more than 6 months remaining if you submit your current reentry permit with the application for the new one.

I assume you already have a 10-year green card. If that assumption is wrong, you may have to do other things to obtain a new green card or reentry permit.

 

[High5]

what is the minimum amount of time required to apply for GreenCard renewal before its expiry

You can renew a reentry permit that has more than 6 months remaining if you submit your current reentry permit with the application for the new one.

I assume you already have a 10-year green card. If that assumption is wrong, you may have to do other things to obtain a new green card or reentry permit.

My GreenCard is close to getting expired in less than 6 months. I'm planning to apply for citizenship. I was wondering if for any reason I'm not able to apply for citizenship before expiry of my GreenCard and would like to apply for renewal of GreenCard instead (so that I don't loose my permanent residency status) what is the last date before which I should submit my GreenCard renewal application. I'm currently working in US.

Also while checking the dates on my greencard and my spouse's greencard we just realized that my spouse's greencard doesn't expire at the sametime as mine even though both got the GreenCard on same date. I was wondering why would USCIS issue me a 10 year GreenCard while issue my spouse a 11 year GreenCard. Will that cause any issues while filing for renewal for either of us.

Thanks.

 

[Jackolantern]

My GreenCard is close to getting expired in less than 6 months. I'm planning to apply for citizenship. I was wondering if for any reason I'm not able to apply for citizenship before expiry of my GreenCard and would like to apply for renewal of GreenCard instead (so that I don't loose my permanent residency status) what is the last date before which I should submit my GreenCard renewal application.

You can apply for renewal as late as the date it expires. Or even after it expires. You have a 10-year card, so you won't lose your status if you fail to apply for renewal before it expires; after it expires you'll only have a problem in situations where you need to prove your status, such as employment* or traveling or applying for a driver's license. It's the people who have 2-year conditional cards whose status would be jeopardized if they wait too late to apply for a 10-year card.


*even with employment an expired green card isn't necessarily a problem; if you have a Social Security card without the employment restriction wording you can show that plus a driver's license or state ID, without having to show the GC.

Also while checking the dates on my greencard and my spouse's greencard we just realized that my spouse's greencard doesn't expire at the sametime as mine even though both got the GreenCard on same date. I was wondering why would USCIS issue me a 10 year GreenCard while issue my spouse a 11 year GreenCard. Will that cause any issues while filing for renewal for either of us.

Must be a USCIS mistake, and it won't cause problems with renewal.