Resident Alien card from 1970

[tany1157 161]

I was reading last night that Permanent Residents have to renew their cards every 10 years. My mom received her Resident Alien card in 1970, and it has no expiration date. I asked my mom if she ever renewed her card, and she said she had not. She got a replacement card in 1985 when her wallet was stolen. I have searched USCIS, and can not seem to find a straight answer. Does she need to renew this card? Is this a problem?

Edited March 3, 2012 by tany1157

[bigdog 376]

Here is the site, mhttp://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.5af9bb95919f35e66f614176543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=ab8c3893c4888210VgnVCM100000082ca60aRCRD&vgnextchannel=68439c7755cb9010VgnVCM10000045f3d6a1RCRDore updated,

Q. What happens to existing Green Cards with the old design?

A. Some existing Green Cards bear an expiration date, and those cards will remain valid until they expire. Holders of those cards will receive the redesigned version when seeking a renewal or replacement.

Other existing Green Cards have no expiration date, and those cards remain valid. USCIS recommends that holders of cards without an expiration date apply to replace their cards with the redesigned version.

The current cost of renewing or replacing a Green Card is $370. Additionally, eligible permanent residents may choose to explore becoming a naturalized U.S. citizen. For more information on eligibility for naturalization, go to www.uscis.gov/citizenship.

[tany1157 161]

Here is the site, mhttp://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.5af9bb95919f35e66f614176543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=ab8c3893c4888210VgnVCM100000082ca60aRCRD&vgnextchannel=68439c7755cb9010VgnVCM10000045f3d6a1RCRDore updated,

Q. What happens to existing Green Cards with the old design?

A. Some existing Green Cards bear an expiration date, and those cards will remain valid until they expire. Holders of those cards will receive the redesigned version when seeking a renewal or replacement.

Other existing Green Cards have no expiration date, and those cards remain valid. USCIS recommends that holders of cards without an expiration date apply to replace their cards with the redesigned version.

The current cost of renewing or replacing a Green Card is $370. Additionally, eligible permanent residents may choose to explore becoming a naturalized U.S. citizen. For more information on eligibility for naturalization, go to www.uscis.gov/citizenship.

thank you!

[Anh map 2,098]

FWIW: I've seen news stories from time to time about long term LPR's having trouble with the "old" Green Cards when entering the US after a trip. If your mom is planning any travel outside the country it may be worth it to get a replacement card to avoid any potential snags.

[tany1157 161]

FWIW: I've seen news stories from time to time about long term LPR's having trouble with the "old" Green Cards when entering the US after a trip. If your mom is planning any travel outside the country it may be worth it to get a replacement card to avoid any potential snags.

Thanks, she is planning a long stay in Greece when she retires in a few years. It may be a good idea to avoid any issues.

[JimVaPhuong 4,863]

Thanks, she is planning a long stay in Greece when she retires in a few years. It may be a good idea to avoid any issues.

How long? The length of stay may actually cause issues.

[tany1157 161]

Around 6 months

[Clear 0]

I was reading last night that Permanent Residents have to renew their cards every 10 years. My mom received her Resident Alien card in 1970, and it has no expiration date. I asked my mom if she ever renewed her card, and she said she had not. She got a replacement card in 1985 when her wallet was stolen. I have searched USCIS, and can not seem to find a straight answer. Does she need to renew this card? Is this a problem?

No No she doesn't. I am a holder of a green card with no expiration date and I travel all the times between Europe and the USA (sometimes for long periods of time) and I have NO intention to request a change. I keep it safe always.

I do get the eventual "perhaps time to become an US Citizen?" they still take your fingerprints and a photo each time you come back to the US no matter the lack of expiration date (no advantage there).

Tell your mom to keep that card safe all the times and to keep an eye at customs (I once had a custom dude sort of put my card aside and I had to reach and ask for it)

The only times people were confused where with some Airlines staff counter who had never seen one before. Also sometimes you can't enter the date while buying an airline ticket online (just leave it blank or put the max date)

Tell your mom to enjoy her trip and to enjoy her card with no expiration while it lasts.

[Clear 0]

How long? The length of stay may actually cause issues.

No matter the expiration as a holder of a green card she can't be out of the US more than a year so she'll have to plan a yearly trip back to the US not to lose her status. Perhaps time to become an US citizen? (of course she can always decide to come back as a tourist to visit a kids, grandkids, etc.)

[tany1157 161]

No matter the expiration as a holder of a green card she can't be out of the US more than a year so she'll have to plan a yearly trip back to the US not to lose her status. Perhaps time to become an US citizen? (of course she can always decide to come back as a tourist to visit a kids, grandkids, etc.)

Thank you for your help also!