News Update - August 24, 2007
By Alan Lee, Esq.†‡
USCIS Proposes to Require Permanent Residents to Replace Green
Cards it Issued Without an Expiration Date and to Pay Fees
On August 22, 2007, the USCIS announced a proposal to require nearly
750,000 permanent residents who were issued green cards between
1979 and 1989 to apply and pay to replace the cards with ones bearing
expiration dates. During those ten years, USCIS (formerly INS) issued
cards without expiration dates. USCIS is proposing requiring recipients
to pay the full fee (now $370 including biometrics fee) to apply
for replacement cards. There would be a 120-day window to file form
I-90 with the fees, after which USCIS proposes to announce in the
Federal Register that all cards without expiration dates are no
longer valid. It should be noted that expiration of the permanent
resident card will not affect the permanent resident status of aliens,
but since under the law all permanent residents are required to
have valid green cards at all times; willful non-compliance could
subject green card holders to fines. The USCIS cites greater security
and evidence of identity for the cardholders as reasons for the
proposal, but the prospect of gaining estimated revenues of $277,500,000
undoubtedly was a consideration. The public comment period remains
open until September 21, 2007.
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