Can You Renew An Expired Green Card And Avoid Deportation?
A green card serves as proof that you have a legal right to be in the United States. If you fail to renew the card, you could face heavy consequences and gaining citizenship later could prove difficult. If your card has already expired, here is what you need to know.
What Are the Consequences of Failing to Renew on Time?
An expired green card does not mean that you will automatically be scheduled for deportation. What it does mean is that your ability to obtain a job could be made more difficult. Employers are required to ensure that all workers have the legal right to hold a job in the U.S. If your card has expired, you no longer have the right to work in the country.
If you travel outside of the United States, re-entering could prove challenging with an expired card. You might have to take extra administrative steps to be allowed back into the country.
An expired green card also hurts your chances of obtaining a home loan. Most lenders require that applicants have legal permanent residency. Without your green card, you no longer have that status and could miss out on buying the home of your dreams.
What Can You Do?
What steps you need to take depends largely on where you are in when your card expired. If you are outside of the country and need to return, you will need to contact a U.S. consulate's office in your country. The consulate's office can issue a boarding foil that would allow you to re-enter the country.
Once you have returned to the United States, you need to submit your renewal application either online or by mail. Be sure the form is complete and the fee is included before submitting it to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, or USCIS. An incomplete form or missing fees could lead to delays in processing your application.
If you are in the country when your green card expires, you can also submit your renewal application.
It is important to note that your application is subject to the same review process as your original application. Your criminal background will be checked and all of your references will be contacted.
In some instances, an interview with an USCIS agent might be scheduled. If so, you should receive notice detailing any documentation you need to take to the interview.
To avoid complications with having your renewal application approved, work with an experienced immigration attorney.
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