applied for N-400 less than 6 months before Green Card expires

[Twomoles 8]

I just submitted N-400 online. My Green Card Expires in 3 Months. Should I worry? What should I do?

[Going through 5,671]

Your LPR status does not expire just because your card expires, so don't worry about that happening.

 

If you wish to have physical proof of your LPR status, or plan on traveling internationally while your N400 is pending, you can make an infopass appointment to get your passport stamped for free.  You must get the stamp BEFORE your card actually expires, or else you'll have to pay the fee to get the card renewed (by filing an i-90 instead).

Edited December 1, 2019 by Going through

[xyz12345 260]

38 minutes ago, Going through said:

Your LPR status does not expire just because your card expires, so don't worry about that happening.

 

If you wish to have physical proof of your LPR status, or plan on traveling internationally while your N400 is pending, you can make an infopass appointment to get your passport stamped for free.  You must get the stamp BEFORE your card actually expires, or else you'll have to pay the fee to get the card renewed (by filing an i-90 instead).

 

OP can ask for an I-551 stamp but I think USCIS may require an I-90 application since it's within 6 months of gc expiration. Hopefully your local office processes N-400s very quickly so you don't have to think about gc renewal. It's a different story if the process takes a year or more.

 

 

https://www.uscis.gov/i-90

Additionally, if you applied for naturalization at least six months before your Green Card expired, you may be able to receive an ADIT stamp instead of filing a Form I-90. If you need assistance, contact the USCIS Contact Center.
 
As a lawful permanent resident, you must have a valid, unexpired Permanent Resident Card or equivalent document with you at all times. Applying for naturalization does not change this requirement.

[Going through 5,671]

15 minutes ago, xyz12345 said:

 

OP can ask for an I-551 stamp but I think USCIS may require an I-90 application since it's within 6 months of gc expiration. Hopefully your local office processes N-400s very quickly so you don't have to think about gc renewal. It's a different story if the process takes a year or more.

 

 

https://www.uscis.gov/i-90

Additionally, if you applied for naturalization at least six months before your Green Card expired, you may be able to receive an ADIT stamp instead of filing a Form I-90. If you need assistance, contact the USCIS Contact Center.
 
As a lawful permanent resident, you must have a valid, unexpired Permanent Resident Card or equivalent document with you at all times. Applying for naturalization does not change this requirement.

USCIS will happily take someone's money at any time    ...so of course they'd prefer the applicant file an i-90 for a new card instead.  Naturally, the i-90 fee won't be refunded should the OP become a citizen before the green card renewal is even processed and a new card produced and mailed out...which unfortunately happens from time to time.

 

I was able to get my stamp while my N400 was processing, and my card expired the same month I applied.  (this was in 2017)

They will require the i-90, however, if the card is already expired by the time OP went to get the stamp.

 

I would urge the OP to attempt to get the free stamp and not file the i-90 unless absolutely necessary...but of course it's up to them (and their bank account).

[Twomoles 8]

So how do I get this stamp? I do not plan on traveling now, it seems silly to submit I-90, just to be denied over a technicality, and spending all that money. I am done traveling for the time being, but that stamp - would that be in my original citizenship passport?

My local office seems have good timelines, and they seem pretty efficient, but every case is different, and after submitting the form, all I can think of is how I screwed up a date here or there.

I was going to apply for N-400 as soon as I got back from traveling, in August,. But then I blinked - and it is already November. Between paying off state taxes, kindergarten, practices, and work to do and dog passing, etc etc last 3 months was like one week.

[Going through 5,671]

2 hours ago, Twomoles said:

So how do I get this stamp? I do not plan on traveling now, it seems silly to submit I-90, just to be denied over a technicality, and spending all that money. I am done traveling for the time being, but that stamp - would that be in my original citizenship passport?

 

 

The stamp would be placed in your foreign passport, yes.  You do not need to be travelling to get a stamp.  The stamp also serves as physical proof of your LPR status.  You would request the stamp at in Infopass appointment, scheduled over the phone.

 

From the myUSCIS website:

 

Scheduling an Appointment 

Inside the United States

If you are inside the United States, you can no longer schedule an appointment online using InfoPass for domestic offices. However, you can check your case status, see our case processing times, change your address, and use other tools on our website.

If our online tools do not provide the help you need, please call the USCIS Contact Center to request an appointment.

If you are in Guam or Saipan, you may either call the Contact Center or send us a message to schedule an appointment.

https://my.uscis.gov/en/appointment/v2