30 years+ green card

[visacat 1]

I am helping a friend file for citizenship and their green card was issued a long time ago over 30 years and they were never required to renew it every 10 years unlike today.

Has anybody else gone through the US Citizenship process and they had a very old green card that never needed to be renewed every 10 years?

[JustWatching 1]

From USCIS:

Versions of Green Card That Are No Longer Valid

If you have a previous version of the alien registration card (e.g., USCIS Form AR-3, Form AR-103 or Form I-151), you must replace it with a current green card.

[visacat 1]

But can she just apply for citizenship or must she update her green card first?

[visacat 1]

In answer to my own question:

U.S.C.I.S. put up a notice of proposed rulemaking in August 2007 to force the replacement of cards issued between 1979 and 1989 without expiration dates. However, there was no final rule making, and so the cards remain valid. The last mention of the rulemaking as far as we can see came in the DHS semiannual regulatory agenda of May 2009 in which it was labeled an item for long term action.

Would a permanent resident be able to choose to apply for naturalization instead of applying for a new card under the proposed rule?

A: USCIS encourages eligible residents to consider applying for naturalization. Information and applications are available on our website at www.uscis.gov.

[ConcordUser 18]

Yes. My green card was issued in 1981 and never expires unlike other cards which needs to be renewed every 10 years. I have applied and become USC in April.