USCIS Announces 48-Month Extension of Green Card Validity for Conditional Permanent Residents with a Pending Form I-751 or Form I-829

Welcome back to the start of a brand-new week! In this blog post we share with you an exciting new update from the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

Today, January 23, 2023, USCIS announced that it is extending the green card validity period of conditional permanent residents who have a pending Form I-751 Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence or Form I-829 Petition by Investor to Remove Conditions on Permanent Resident Status for EB-5 immigrant investors, as well as those filing new petitions.

What is this all about?

USCIS is extending validity of Permanent Resident Cards (also known as Green Cards) for a period of 48 months (4 years) beyond the green card’s expiration date for petitioners who properly file Form I-751, Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence, or Form I-829, Petition by Investor to Remove Conditions on Permanent Resident Status.

USCIS began to implement this extension on January 11, 2023, for Form I-829 petitioners and has announced that it will start to implement the extension starting on January 25, 2023, for Form I-751 petitioners.

Why the change?

USCIS has said this change is necessary due to the long processing times for both Form I-751 and I-829 petitions that have increased over the past year.

How will this change be implemented?

New applicants

USCIS will update the language seen on Form I-751 and Form I-829 receipt notices to extend the validity of a Green Card for 48 months for individuals with a newly filed Form I-751 or Form I-829.

Applicants with pending I-751 or I-829 Petitions

For those with pending applications, USCIS will issue new receipt notices to eligible conditional permanent residents who previously received notices with an extension shorter than 48 months and whose cases remain pending with USCIS.

Evidence of Lawful Permanent Resident Status

These updated receipt notices can be presented along with the expired Green Card as evidence of continued status, while the case remains pending with USCIS.

USCIS reminds applicants that by presenting your updated receipt notice with your expired Green Card, you remain authorized to work and travel for 48 months from the expiration date on the front of your expired Green Card.

International Travel of 1 Year or More

USCIS also reminds the public that conditional permanent residents who plan to be outside of the United States for a year or more should apply for a reentry permit by filing Form I-131, Application for Travel Document, before leaving the United States.

To read more about this new update please click here.

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