How to replace your permanent resident card
In my law office, I often talk with individuals who have expired permanent resident cards and they need help replacing the card. The process is fairly simple with the USCIS office and website, but it does take time and a bit of patience. The form needed to replace an expiring (or lost) Permanent Resident Card is the I-90 form. The cost is a $450 filing fee and it takes about 6 months to get a new card.
After the application is filed, it is possible to get temporary proof of your legal status, if that is needed for your job or for the DMV. Once you get the receipt for the I-90 form, you can go to the local USCIS office and obtain a temporary stamp in your passport to show that you really still have permanent resident status.
This process is more difficult if you have lost your permanent resident card because in order to get a replacement, you will have to get into the USCIS office and have biometrics (fingerprints) taken. You must have identification to get into the USCIS office. A few years back, one of my staff had the unfortunate event that her purse was stolen and her driver’s license and permanent resident card were gone. It was very difficult to get her into the USCIS office to get the biometrics taken, to replace the permanent resident card, so that she could then replace the driver’s license.
My best advice is to keep track of your expiration date on the card, so that you file well in advance. Keep a copy of your documents, in case ever needed, and even better: become a U.S. Citizen so that you no longer have to mess with the replacement of the permanent resident card every 10 years!
