Duration of Green card

[Iml3g3nd 3]

Hi

I got to USA on 9-10 jan. I got my Green card on 5 feb. im here with Cr1 visa.

Today i noticed that my green card is valid only till 2012... isn`t that strange because i was expecting it to be either of 5-10 years duration... Now im supposed to get my driving licence soon so im guessing even that would be valid till 2012 only

So that bothers me....is it normal? or i`m missing something here?

and is there a way to get a long duration of GC or atleast a licence which is valid for long?

[thesnowman 1]

your first green card is called a conditional green card and is only valid for two years. It is kind of protection built in to try and prevent marriage fraud. Anyway 90 days before your conditional green expires you can apply to "remove condition". Once this is accepted you will be given a new 10 year green card. Check out the Removing conditions forum and guide for more information.

[Dan J 277]

Hi

I got to USA on 9-10 jan. I got my Green card on 5 feb. im here with Cr1 visa.

Today i noticed that my green card is valid only till 2012... isn`t that strange because i was expecting it to be either of 5-10 years duration... Now im supposed to get my driving licence soon so im guessing even that would be valid till 2012 only

So that bothers me....is it normal? or i`m missing something here?

and is there a way to get a long duration of GC or atleast a licence which is valid for long?

If you have been married for less than two years when the green card is granted, it will be a 2 yr conditional green card. 90 days before it expires, you can file to remove conditions and get a 10 yr greencard.

[Darnell 8,479]

first issuance of the card?

cr-1 - 2 years

IR-1 - 10 years

you can have a 10 year card later, once you apply for the ROC.

your 'official' marriage date was 2008-12-24 - you don't qualify for IR-1 at POE, sorry.

I am REALLY surprised by the question though - somehow, I thought you and yer USC spouse knew all about this, already?

Good Luck !

Edited February 11, 2010 by Darnell

[Iml3g3nd 3]

oh No

we did not even have any ideea about all this... anyways thanks ya all !

[Kathryn41 3,205]

Just to reinforce what others have said you have a conditional green card because your marriage was less than 2 years old when you entered the US. You absolutely have to apply for your 10 year green card during the 90 days before the 2 year green card expires. You cannot file late so be sure to write that date now on a calendar so you don't forget!

You file for your 10 year green card by submitting an I-751 application "Application to Remove Conditions" on your green card - the condition being that you need to prove that your marriage is a real one and not entered into for immigration purposes. It would be a really good idea for you to read the instructions and the requirements for the I-751 now because you need to present evidence with the application that proves your marriage. Reading what that evidence is now means you will pay attention to what is needed and make sure you collect it over the next 2 years so you have it ready when it is time to apply.

Yes, your Driver's License will only be as valid for as long as your green card is for (or even less time in some states as some states only grant licenses to permanent residents that last for 3 year even if you have a 10 year card - Georgia is one of these states).