Expiring Perm Res, Applying for Citizenship

[jamesfreddyc 0]

My spouse's Permanent Residency expires 10/2021, has had residency since 10/2011.  She would like to now begin filing N-400 for citizenship but I am aware of the processing time up to 24-30 months.

 

Question: should we go ahead and renew the permanent residency now in tandem with the N-400?

 

My concern is her going out of status during the wait period for the citizenship application.

 

Thanks a bunch!

James

[Crazy Cat 39,414]

She will not "go out of status"  When a green card expired, the status does not expire......only the evidence of her status will expire.

[NancyNguyen 1,657]

Her GC expires not her status. By law you have to renew it. Many choose to apply for citizenship without renewing it then they learn the hard way when they want to travel.

[jamesfreddyc 0]

Edit: this was in reply to Lucky Cat (I didn't correctly quote the post)

 

Thank you for the fast response!

 

My concern is an expired perm resident card but it sounds like there is nothing to be concerned about?  What about things the may require a valid PR card?

 

 

Edited January 3, 2021 by jamesfreddyc
forgot to quote Lucky Cat

[jamesfreddyc 0]

4 minutes ago, NancyNguyen said:

Her GC expires not her status. By law you have to renew it. Many choose to apply for citizenship without renewing it then they learn the hard way when they want to travel.

Ah, that's what I was concerned about!  Thank you.

 

I've had concern about what happens should she need a valid PR card and travel is absolutely something of concern.

 

Ok!  Off we go to renew!

 

Thanks again.

[igoyougoduke 1,609]

18 minutes ago, jamesfreddyc said:

Ah, that's what I was concerned about!  Thank you.

 

I've had concern about what happens should she need a valid PR card and travel is absolutely something of concern.

 

Ok!  Off we go to renew!

 

Thanks again.

if you need to travel outside united states in the next 24-30 months you shoudl renew green card

 

if you dont have to travel than you just wait for n-400 to be approved. best bet is to renew 

[ThaOne 101]

33 minutes ago, jamesfreddyc said:

Ah, that's what I was concerned about!  Thank you.

 

I've had concern about what happens should she need a valid PR card and travel is absolutely something of concern.

 

Ok!  Off we go to renew!

 

Thanks again.

It only expires in October 2021. Normally it is advised to renew 6 months before it expires, but you should check on USCIS website, I believe I have heard a mention of just having a temporary stamp that can be requested which just extends the GC for months or maybe a year (?). That is for people who are waiting for their new GC or in the process of getting their n400 so they don't have to go through the whole GC renewal.

Either way, if you file your n400 now chances are it could be completed before October anyway. When you have those long 24-30 months processing times it doesn't mean necessarily that's how long you wait. The processing time at my office when I filed was around 14 months. I filed a month before lockdowns. Despite the processing times being about 14 months, originally my case was supposed to be completed just 8 months later in September. Then the lockdown delayed it. Nevertheless my interview is now in just a couple of days. So despite the delay and lockdown, my case didn't even get to the "official processing times" they list. For some it may be (way) longer for some it may be (way) less. The only thing is they are not really required to give you any updates until you get to the stated processing times. Some big offices are notoriously slower. Check the forums. But not everyone is unlucky to wait that long.

[jamesfreddyc 0]

1 minute ago, ThaOne said:

It only expires in October 2021. Normally it is advised to renew 6 months before it expires, but you should check on USCIS website, I believe I have heard a mention of just having a temporary stamp that can be requested which just extends the GC for months or maybe a year (?). That is for people who are waiting for their new GC or in the process of getting their n400 so they don't have to go through the whole GC renewal.

Either way, if you file your n400 now chances are it could be completed before October anyway. When you have those long 24-30 months processing times it doesn't mean necessarily that's how long you wait. The processing time at my office when I filed was around 14 months. I filed a month before lockdowns. Despite the processing times being about 14 months, originally my case was supposed to be completed just 8 months later in September. Then the lockdown delayed it. Nevertheless my interview is now in just a couple of days. So despite the delay and lockdown, my case didn't even get to the "official processing times" they list. For some it may be (way) longer for some it may be (way) less. The only thing is they are not really required to give you any updates until you get to the stated processing times. Some big offices are notoriously slower. Check the forums. But not everyone is unlucky to wait that long.

 

Thank you for commenting with your personal experiences!  Yes, I understand the processing times is a guesstimate and will vary for cases.  I am only concerned should my wife need to travel with an expired GC!  You are also correct that we are still more than 6mo away from expiration, but I was also looking at the processing time  which could potentially be longer!  

 

Thanks again!  Much appreciated.

[Thegirl 224]

She can get an ADIT stamp to travel if you apply for n400 now which is more than 6 months before the card expires. Then you can save yourself the money to renew. 

[Ayrton 965]

7 hours ago, jamesfreddyc said:

 

Thank you for commenting with your personal experiences!  Yes, I understand the processing times is a guesstimate and will vary for cases.  I am only concerned should my wife need to travel with an expired GC!  You are also correct that we are still more than 6mo away from expiration, but I was also looking at the processing time  which could potentially be longer!  

 

Thanks again!  Much appreciated.

She files for citizenship. 30 days before the card expires, she requests an infopass appointment to get a stamp on her passport and she can travel with that.