Lost Green Card
If you are a Permanent Resident Card holder (also known as a Green Card), then you are likely aware that the law says any alien over the age of eighteen must carry their card with them at all times, and that NOT having your card in your possession at all times could make you guilty of a misdemeanor, which could, in turn, earn you a fine or a jail term each time you are caught.
Obviously, you should take very good care of your Green Card, because it is the documentation that proves you are legally a resident of the United States, and have the right to live and work here in the country. It also proves you are complying with the United States immigration laws. As an immigrant to the United States, the card is one of the most important items you own. But what do you do about a lost Green Card?
It is possible to apply for a replacement Permanent Resident Card. Replacement Green Cards are available to people for a variety of reasons – if your previous card was lost, stolen, destroyed, or made illegible somehow; if your card was issued before you were 14 years old, and you are now 14 or older; you were previously a commuter and now wish to take up residence in the United States; your card has incorrect data; your name has been legally changed since you last got your card; you never got the card the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issued to you previously, and a few other change of status situations.
It is important to replace a lost Green Card as soon as possible to avoid any problems that might arise – such as the previously mentioned misdemeanor fines and imprisonment. To get a replacement Permanent Resident Card, you must apply to the USCIS by filing Form I-90. You can download this form from the USCIS website, www.uscis.gov, or have a copy sent to you by calling the Forms Request hotline. If you like, you can also use the E-Filing option to file over the Internet. If your application for a replacement is approved, you will be sent a new card with an expiration date of 10 years from the date it was issued. If your application is denied, you are not allowed to appeal, but you can submit a motion to reopen or reconsider your case with the same office that denied you.