Expired Greencard - Applying for Citizenship
My husbands greencard expired last month and we are in the process of filling out his citizenship paperwork.
I am unable to get live assistance from the USCIS customer service and need to know if we have to renew his greencard now or if filing the citizenship paper work will extend his residency.
Any help would be appreciated.
Re: Expired Greencard - Applying for Citizenship
Generally, a permanent resident does not need to file for a replacement green card if he has already filed for citizenship. Taken with proof of the filing of a petition for naturalization, his expired green card should be enough to establish that he is lawfully present in the United States. Note that other issues may arise - he should not travel internationally with an expired green card, and he may have difficulty if his employer (or a prospective employer) requests proof of his lawful status to confirm that he is legally entitled to work in the U.S.
If problems arise and he needs a Green Card (e.g., for work), he can file form I-90 and, once they have the filing fee, schedule an appointment with the USCIS to have a permanent resident stamp placed in his passport. That should be sufficient proof of lawful status while he completes the citizenship process.