USCIS Will Stop Issuing Sticker to Extend Green Card Validity

By Angelita Chavez and Jagan Tamirisa

As of January 2021, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will stop issuing green card extension stickers to lawful permanent residents when they file Form I-90. Instead, the agency will issue these applicants a revised Form I-797, Notice of Action.

Lawful permanent residents file Form I-90 to request a replacement green card when theirs has expired or will expire within 6 months.  Beginning in January 2021, USCIS will issue these applicants a revised Form I-797, Notice of Action instead of an extension sticker to temporarily prove their permanent residency status. Individuals can use the revised Form I-797 receipt notice along with their green card as evidence of their lawful permanent resident status for 12 months after the green card’s expiration date. These two documents serve as proof of identity that allow green card holders to work and return to the United States from foreign travel while their Form I-90 is pending.

USCIS will still issue stickers from the Applicant Support Center (ASC) at biometrics appointments for individuals who already have an appointment scheduled. Otherwise, all future applicants who file Form I-90 to extend their green card will receive a revised receipt notice by mail within approximately 7-10 days after USCIS accepts their application.

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