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What is The Green Card Renewal Processing Time?

Dealing with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is not for the faint-hearted. Often the most seemingly straightforward of applications can take months and even years. The green card renewal processing time is no exception, and the COVID-19 pandemic has placed massive pressure on the system.

Unfortunately, turnaround times of two months are a thing of the past. USCIS has been impacted by COVID backlogs and the same recruitment crisis that’s affecting many government agencies. You should assume you are in for a long wait.

Always check the processing times on the USCIS website. As of September 2022, this reveals an application to replace a 10-year permanent resident card is dealt with by the Potomac Service Center with 80% of cases completed within 13 months. It’s safe to assume you will wait at least a year for your replacement green card in 2022.

When Should I Apply to Replace Your Green Card?

Given the long renewal processing times applicants face, aim to start the process well before the expiration of your 10-year permanent resident card.

Your wait depends on factors including the USCIS caseload and your ability to correctly file a green card renewal or replacement application. Consider talking to an experienced immigration lawyer to avoid making mistakes that could delay the application further.

When is Green Card Renewal Necessary?

You should file Form I-90 to renew or replace a green card. You must replace your green card if it has expired or is due to expire within six months. Renewal is also necessary if you received your previous card before you were 14 and you have reached your 14th birthday – unless your card expires before your 16th birthday. USCIS provides a list of reasons why lawful permanent residents and conditional permanent residents must renew or replace their green cards.

If you filed I-90 correctly, USCIS will mail you a receipt notice (Form I-797) 2 to 4 weeks after filing. If you made a mistake, USCIS will send you a Notice of Action rejecting the document or a Form I-797E Request for Evidence. If you receive either, your renewal or replacement request will have been significantly delayed. Seek legal advice if you are unsure about how to file your green card renewal/replacement package.

Read: Can My Green Card Renewal Be Rejected?

The receipt letter is important because it extends the validity of your existing green card, meaning you should not experience any issues with working or traveling out of the country.

When presented with your green card, the I-797 notice extends the green card’s validity for 12 months from the date on the front of the card and provides proof of your status as a lawful permanent resident. This means you have documentation of identity, employment authorization, and authorization to return to the United States after temporary foreign travel.  

You should receive notice of a scheduled date for a biometrics appointment for fingerprinting within a few weeks of filing Form I-90. This is mandatory for most renewals and is causing huge delays. COVID-19 caused major backlogs in testing which USCIS is still working its way through. An appointment that would have taken about eight weeks in the past is now taking from 7 to 11 months.

Although your biometrics appointment is not an interview and you will not have to attend a formal interview for green card renewal, you should bring the correct documentation. If you arrive without a valid ID, you could end up waiting months longer.

After biometrics, you can check the status of your green card renewal on the USCIS website by entering your receipt numbers. You should receive your new green card within a matter of weeks although backlogs are affecting all parts of the process.

In rare cases, applicants can apply to expedite the green card renewal process. These include urgent humanitarian reasons such as expediting work for healthcare workers during humanitarian crises or where a company can show it would suffer severe financial loss. Contact one of our lawyers if you believe your case may fall into one of these rare scenarios.

Green card renewal processing times are causing frustration across the country. Please contact our immigration team today for help with your application to ensure your renewal is as fast as possible. Call Gardner & Mendoza at (757) 464-9224.

Back to Green Card Renewal >

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Well, hard to believe… job done! I’m frank to admit I had no idea that it would be so involved compared to 10 years ago when I did the renewal myself. Happily I was fortunate enough to find the best people to help get it done this time. When I was a working stiff it was mostly as a field guy in sales & marketing. High tech communication in those days was a pay phone in customers’ lobbies, so someone back in the office skilled in dealing w/problems was absolutely essential when I couldn’t be contacted. Most of those who supported me that way were good at what they did, some were outstanding. None were better than you!! This tedious & sometimes worrisome process would have been unbearable without your keeping it, & me, on track. So we want to extend our thanks to you and Radlyn. Hoping for Gardner & Mendoza to continue the good work for many years to come. - Anonymous
Gardner and Mendoza Law Firm is a great law firm no matter what kind of situation you may be in! For example I had court today, John Gardner, my attorney represented me today and got the charged dismissed totally the first time we both appeared in front of the judge in Virginia Beach Traffic Court. He uses every bit of knowledge he can to help you get the best results!! He also works very well with Latinos! They have a Spanish speaking person in their office at all times!! - Sebastian
My husband and I had a great experience with Mrs. Mendoza. She provided excellent information and a sense of urgency with every step of our immigration process. Her team was always supportive in getting us the information we needed throughout the whole process. This legal firm also treats their clients with the highest levels of respect. In all of Virginia I would say that the Gardener & Mendoza team is the best recommendation for same sex immigration cases and for immigration cases in general. It was a pleasure to work with them. - Anonymous
I Highly Recommend Radlyn Mendoza, An Excellent Immigration Lawyer. My wife and I were very worried about my wife’s immigration and legal status. We were quite impressed with Attorney Mendoza during our initial consultation. She proved to be a smart, knowledgeable, and very capable immigration attorney. She and her staff were very helpful and responsive to all of our requests. Kudos to her and staff, especially Leesa, for successfully handling our case. Thanks for a job well done. - Thomas and Cheong W.
My daughter received a reckless driving ticket going 60 in a 35 mph zone, so understandably, I was very concerned. In court, Mr. Gardner was able to get the reckless driving charge and ticket completely dismissed due to his knowledge of what the police officer had to present in court. Mr. Gardner was a familiar face to the judge and the clerks in the Virginia Beach courthouse. When we contacted John Gardner’s office at Gardner & Mendoza, he and his staff made us feel comfortable by explaining the whole process to us. His track record and the reviews online helped make the decision to choose Mr. Gardner over other attorneys easy. I highly recommend Mr. Gardner. He gave us peace of mind and won the case too! - Michelle

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Our main law office is conveniently located in the Hilltop section of Virginia Beach, near Sentara Virginia Beach General Hospital and Oceana Naval Base. See law office locations.

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