Green card eligibility categories and permanent residence in the U.S.
How can I leave the U.S. with an expiring Green Card?
Question: I have heard that most things are taking longer at the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services.
My problem is that I must renew my Green Card as it is expiring. However, My father is gravely ill and I want to visit him before he dies.
What can I do?
Answer:
First, if you leave the U.S. without a valid Green Card, you will not be able to return. This can cause very significant problems.
You are correct that many applications at USCIS are taking longer. Recently, however, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced the launch of the I-90 pilot project in Los Angeles. This program will reduce the wait time to replace or renew a permanent resident card from a year to less than a week.
The project uses electronic filing of applications on the USCIS website. This offers applicants a convenient and simple alternative to mailing in forms. Once filed electronically, the applicant visits one of USCIS’s Application Support Centers (ASCs).
At the ASC, officers order a new Green Card. In most cases, the applicant will receive it in less than a week. Second-time filers must pay a second fee. USCIS noted, “This new pilot will allow us to offer the kind of service that our customers need and deserve.”
In March, USCIS also launched InfoPass in Los Angeles. InfoPass ends long lines by allowing people to make online appointments, potentially eliminating waiting altogether. USCIS plans to expand InfoPass to Arlington, VA, New York City, and Detroit.
Thus, in the computer age, CIS is finally taking advantage of technology. If these programs work well, they will likely spread across the United States over time—just as InfoPass is expected to do.