Green card renewal applications can be accepted, rejected, approved, and denied. Your green card renewal could be denied if you are no longer eligible for permanent residence or make mistakes in filing paperwork. This could have serious consequences, including deportation.
It’s important to know what mistakes to avoid, since you are required to renew your green card every 10 years, per the Immigration and Nationality Act. There are also multiple steps to processing I-90 applications to understand, which can help you prevent your green card denial.
What Accepted & Rejected Applications Mean for I-90 Forms
After the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) receives your application, they will determine whether it’s complete. If it’s complete, it will be accepted. If it’s incomplete, it could be rejected.
Typically, you will have the opportunity to fix any errors and resubmit a rejected application. You will NOT lose your filing fee. The USCIS commonly rejects green card renewal applications for the following reasons:
- Your application is not filled out correctly.
- Your application is not signed.
- The fee is incorrect.
The USCIS rejected 11% of applications in 2020, according to its internal website. Our do-it-yourself software and lawyer review processes help clients like you avoid unnecessary rejections. This allows you to put your best effort forward, increasing your chances of getting your application accepted.
What Approved & Denied Applications Mean for I-90 Forms
Once your application is accepted, it will go to the final stage. During this part of the process, it is either approved or denied. Applications are approved if you have maintained your permanent residence eligibility. Applications are denied if you are no longer eligible for permanent residence.
Denied applications could result in you losing your permanent residence status and even deportation. The USCIS can deport a permanent resident for several reasons. You should speak to an attorney if you fall under any of these categories:
- Smuggling
- Marriage fraud
- Crimes of moral turpitude
- Aggravated felony
- Failure to register as a sex offender
- Use of controlled substances
- Certain firearm offenses
- Domestic violence, stalking, and child abuse
- Trafficking
- Falsification of documents
- Espionage or sabotage
- Terrorist activities
A denied green card renewal form is a serious issue. Each year, thousands of renewal requests are denied, leaving immigrants unsure of their futures.
With our lawyer review services, we can take a look at your application and point out any problems that might result in a denial. In some cases, this could make the difference between staying a green card holder and losing your status.
Applying for a Green Card Renewal Too Early
Another problem that causes many applicants to be denied is filing for renewal too early. The USCIS accepts renewal applications that are filed within six months of expiration. If your current green card will last more than the next six months before expiring, you shouldn’t apply for renewal just yet.
This is often a tough call for legal permanent residents. No one wants to be caught without the legally required green card, as this can result in a $100 fine, a misdemeanor charge, or even jail time. However, filing too soon for renewal may force USCIS to deny your application, delaying the process more than if you had waited for the six-month window.
How Being a Public Charge Can Affect Your Green Card Renewal
If you are a public charge, your green card renewal application could be denied. For many reasons, the United States government often denies legal permanent resident status to applicants who are currently a public charge or who are at risk of becoming one in the near future.
A public charge is someone who will depend largely or entirely on the U.S. government. In other words, you may be considered a public charge if you partake of social programs like Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) or SSI (Supplemental Security Income).
Get Help on Your Green Card Renewal Application
No one likes an application to be denied, and that’s definitely the case when the application can affect your life and livelihood as much as a green card renewal form. If your green card is set to expire in the next six months, get FileRight software to help you file your renewal application as smoothly as possible.
