Green Card holder spouse dies... what next?

[Shoshana]

My mother recently passed away. My dad has a green card. It's old enough that there isn't an expiration date on it, and from what I've read online - it should be "renewed". He's been here since 1974. Never had a clue that his card needed renewed..

He's interested in me finding out what he has to do to go through naturalization, but I'm concerned that maybe he was supposed to have that green card renewed while married to my mom and there will be a problem. I haven't been able to find any solid documentation online that explains this scenario.

1. Since my mother has passed, does he have to renew and do I need to sponsor him - or is he okay with his current status?
2. How do we know if his green card needs renewed? The form located at uscis.gov/sites/default/files/USCIS/Resources/B2en.pdf states that "most versions are no longer valid if there isn't an expiration date".
   • "If your card does not have any expiration date on the front, then you have a very old version. Most old versions are no longer valid. Even if your card does not have an expiration date on it, we recommend you apply to renew it."
3. Is there a cost? I read there is a waiver or reduction for senior citizens/low income for naturalization cost coverage, wasn't sure if there was one for green card.

Thank you for your time

 

[newacct]

If he has a green card that is an I-551 issued between 1979-1989 without an expiration date are still valid. (If he had an I-151 issued before 1978, then it is no longer valid.) Plus, permanent resident status doesn't "expire", so even if he had a green card that is expired or no longer valid, his permanent resident status is still perfectly valid, as long as he has been residing in the US.

His permanent residency doesn't depend on your mom, so your mom passing has no effect on it. He just can't qualify for naturalization under the 3-year rule for being a permanent resident for 3 years and married to a US citizen for the last 3 years, but he can still qualify under the 5-year rule for being a permanent resident for 5 years (and he would use the 5-year rule anyway as he has been here way more than 5 years).

If he has an I-151 that is no longer valid, I am not sure whether he can just file a naturalization application with a copy of that, or if he first needs to file I-90 to replace it before filing for naturalization.