Hi all!
Does anyone have a list of what processes come after filing the I-751? Meaning, once it's hopefully approved and you've already received your new card. What forms do you have to file next, when? We don't want to forget to file anything. Even this one almost slipped our minds.
How long is the new card good for?
Thanks!

The new card is good for 10 years, and I do believe your good to go with nothing else to file in that time, unless you are going to apply for citizenship. And that I couldnt tell you much about because we havent done it yet.

You can apply for citizenship 90 days before your 3 year anniversary as a LPR.

Otherwise, 90 days before your 10 year green card expires, you would file again for the rest of your life.

Not much needed after that, if approved you will have 10 year green-card.

You will file for I-90 to renew it in 10 years time, OR you can file for citizenship (N-400), at 3 years of you getting the first CR-Green-card, if married to a US citizen for the 3 years. Or 5 years if not married to a US citizen.

Thanks for the quick replies! That's good to know that after 10 years.... they finally ease up on you.
Good luck to all of you!

Actually, no, they don't ease up on you. You file and get a 10 year card - and unless you become a citizen, you have to keep refiling every 10 years for a new card - for the rest of your life.

the only difference is that you filed JUST to get another card (not approvals involved because you are and will be a resident all your life....) This is what I understand…

You have 180 days in this case, not 90.

http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/men...00045f3d6a1RCRD

"How Do I Apply to Renew My Permanent Resident Card?

If you are a lawful permanent resident whose ten-year I-551 has expired or will expire within the next six months, you may renew your card by filing an Form I-90.

Now I'm confused! We have to do nothing until the 10 year or file this form or that form. What is I-551? Or does that only apply if you do not wish to become a US Citizen?

the I-551 is a stamp you get in your passport that acts like a temporary green card... a lot of people get them during the removal of conditions because either they never receive the extension letter or they still haven't gotten the 10 year card after the extension letter has expired...

you don't have to do anything for 10 years after you get the 10 year card.... unless you want to file for citizenship when you are eligible...

well besides informing them when you move by filling the appropriate forms... (ar-11 and I865)

Thanks for clearing that up.
Do you only have to file AR-11 and I-865, if you continue to renew your Green card? You don't have to file it if you file to become a US Citizen, right? I mean unless of course it's within the 10 year.

they only time you stop filing the ar-11 and I-865 is when and if you become a citizen...

Ok. Thank you!

I-551 = Green-Card

As has pretty much already been stated, a 10-year green card is different from a 2-year green card because when your 10-year green card expires your status in USCIS' eyes doesn't. That cannot be said for the 2-year green card of course. It's a fairly big deal when your 2-year green card expires.

There are literally millions of 10-year green card holders in this country who may never ultimately choose to become U.S. citizens. There really is no need for them to do so if they don't want to either.

I've recently applied for the 10-year green card and I just want to get to that stage in the game because I figure it'll be a whole lot easier then and less stress. I'm not worried about becoming a U.S. citizen at this point. When I'm ready then I'll go for it but it's not a big issue to me. All I have to do is pay some more money and pass a test. How hard could that be?

Now, I would recommend that people consider U.S. citizenship. Here would be my reasons why I will probably file for that within the next year or two:

1) USCIS keeps jacking up the fees for all of these immigration 'stages'. If you wait another 5 or 10 years to become a U.S. citizen then who knows... maybe it'll cost you $2,000.00 just to do that. It's not getting cheaper by the year put it that way! So, why not just get it over with?
2) Obviously we all moved here to be with our spouses but the U.S. is a great country too. Why not show some pride in the country and get involved with things like voting and jury duty? Those things are only open to U.S. citizens. 10-year green card holders are left out.
3) I think it would be nice to not have to worry about filling out any more forms for USCIS for the rest of my life. I mean... yea... 10 years is a long time but it's just something else you have to put on your calendar. Wouldn't it be nice to not have to worry about that? Also, my Canadian passport expires in 2010. If I don't become a U.S. citizen then I almost have to keep up with that and get another Canadian passport when I travel. Whereas as a U.S. citizen I would probably just get a U.S. passport and not renew the Canadian passport.

Anyway... I'm sure others have their reasons too... the most important thing for a lot of us right now is to just get through to the other side of the 2-year green card. It's a big step and it's a nice milestone in the long (and sometimes) frustrating immigration journey that we've all had to take to be with the love of our life.