10 yr green card expired 20 years ago.... what do I do?

[Azure30 22]

My friend let his 10 year green card expire back in 1999...life got in the way.. married to a citizen for over 10 years. He had his green card however,  from before the marriage. He isn't technically illegal, since he has an expired gc, has a social etc. However,  Atlanta uscis office says they can't find his paperwork. An attorney is suggesting he start all over fron scratch, and pay hin 4,000.00 to handle the case. 

Other option is to file the form to replace the gc, but because of how long it's been expired, they may or may not replace it. 

Please, has anyone been in this situation,  how long ago,  and your suggestion/advice on the subject would be greatly appreciated.

[Lil bear 4,201]

2 minutes ago, Azure30 said:

My friend let his 10 year green card expire back in 1999...life got in the way.. married to a citizen for over 10 years. He had his green card however,  from before the marriage. He isn't technically illegal, since he has an expired gc, has a social etc. However,  Atlanta uscis office says they can't find his paperwork. An attorney is suggesting he start all over fron scratch, and pay hin 4,000.00 to handle the case. 

Other option is to file the form to replace the gc, but because of how long it's been expired, they may or may not replace it. 

Please, has anyone been in this situation,  how long ago,  and your suggestion/advice on the subject would be greatly appreciated.

On what basis did the friend obtain the green card initially? 

[Lehcim 31]

6 minutes ago, Azure30 said:

Other option is to file the form to replace the gc, but because of how long it's been expired, they may or may not replace it. 

So what exactly does he have to lose when trying this? Since USCIS is already aware anyway. 

[Ontarkie 14,221]

~~MOved to General Immigration related discussion, from Ir1/CR1 P&P - The OP's friend is already a GC holder.~~

[milimelo 4,477]

Well hopefully he has a copy of the expired card (or card itself) ? File I-90 online. 

If he arrived through immigrant visa, FOIA State Department and USCIS for his A-file. 

I’d also involve a congressman or senator’s immigration liaison for follow up over a lawyer. 

[NigeriaorBust 4,087]

Old green cards didn't expire ( they were also actually green )  Does he have it still ?    Not sure what happens when an older card holder didn't do anything

[arken 4,197]

Since he still has his expired GC, just file for the renewal. GC is just the evidence of permanent residency, he is still the LPR as long as he has maintained residency requirement. Deal only when USCIS asks for any more information after applying for renewal.

 

Why did Atlanta uscis office tell then they don’t find his paperwork? I mean how did it come into play?

[milimelo 4,477]

22 minutes ago, NigeriaorBust said:

Old green cards didn't expire ( they were also actually green )  Does he have it still ?    Not sure what happens when an older card holder didn't do anything

There was free? renewal sometime back around 2006 or 2007 for all folks that had unexpired green cards. Wonder why OP’s friend didn’t pay attention and handled it - was all over news, papers. 

[Azure30 22]

He got it initially thru his father. He got married to an American after it was expired.

[Allaboutwaiting 2,503]

He just needs to file an I-90 form, for green card renewal. It is normal that his file is not at any USCIS local office. Old A-files are sent to different storage facilities. 

As mentioned before on a previous post, he's still a permanent resident, so there is NO issue. Just fill the form and pay the fee.

Btw, green cards issued between 1979 and August 1989 do not have expiration dates and do not need to be renewed. 

[Crazy Cat 41,845]

Life has been in the way for 20 years, huh?    Anyway, I agree with those who say to just file the I-90 with the proper fee......

 

 

 

Sounds like a really "good" attorney..../s 😂

Edited July 23, 2019 by missileman

[Loren Y 2,755]

Just file and pay the current fees, no issue. The card is just evidence of you status, it doesn't mean when card expires you no longer are an LPR, your card just expires. File the I90 and wait about 6-7 months for the new card.

[Going through 5,671]

Heck at this point, I'd tell him to just apply for citizenship since the N400 fee is pretty comparable to the i-90 fee.

 

[Lil bear 4,201]

6 minutes ago, Going through said:

Heck at this point, I'd tell him to just apply for citizenship since the N400 fee is pretty comparable to the i-90 fee.

 

But I think that you have  to send a  copy of the front and back of the GC with the N400 or a copy of the application to replace it. 

[Going through 5,671]

5 minutes ago, Lil bear said:

But I think that you have  to send a  copy of the front and back of the GC with the N400 or a copy of the application to replace it. 

He has the expired card still in his possession, from what OP said?  At least that's what I gathered...

Edited July 23, 2019 by Going through