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The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has updated its Policy Manual that will automatically extend the validity of Permanent Resident Cards (commonly called Green Cards) for lawful permanent residents who have applied for naturalization.
The update, which took effect on December 12th, will help naturalization applicants who experience longer processing times as they will receive an extension of lawful permanent resident (LPR) status without being required to file Form I-90, Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card (Green Card).
“LPRs who properly file Form N-400, Application for Naturalization, may receive this extension without regard to whether they filed Form I-90. USCIS will update the language on Form N-400 receipt notices to extend Green Cards for up to 24 months for these applicants,” USCIS said in a news release dated December 9th.
USCIS said the receipt notice can be presented with the expired Green Card as evidence of continued status as well as identity and employment authorization under List A of Employment Eligibility Verification (Form I-9), if presented before the expiration of the 24-month extension period provided in the notice.
Prior to this change, naturalization applicants who did not apply for naturalization at least six months before their Green Card expiration date needed to file Form I-90 to maintain proper documentation of their lawful status.
Applicants who applied for naturalization at least six months prior to their Green Card expiration were eligible to receive an Alien Documentation, Identification, and Telecommunications (ADIT) stamp in their passport, which served as temporary evidence of their LPR status.
“This policy update recognizes USCIS’ current processing times, while improving flexibility and efficiency by reducing the number of ADIT stamp appointments in field offices and the number of Form I-90s filed, which allows for these resources to be focused on other immigration benefit adjudications,” USCIS added.
The extension will apply to all applicants who file Form N-400 on or after December 12th, 2022, USCIS. LPRs who filed for naturalization prior to December 12th will not receive a Form N-400 receipt notice with the extension.