Citizenship & naturalizationPOLICY UPDATE
Extension of Permanent Resident Card for Naturalization Applicants
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is issuing policy guidance in the USCIS Policy Manual to provide that USCIS may automatically extend the validity of a Permanent Resident Card (PRC) (Form I-551) through an Application for Naturalization (Form N-400) receipt notice, without regard to whether the applicant has filed an Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card (Form I-90). This guidance becomes effective December 12, 2022.
Effective date and application
This guidance, contained in Volume 12 of the Policy Manual, is effective December 12, 2022 and
Key changes
- U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is issuing policy guidance in the USCIS Policy Manual to provide that USCIS may automatically extend the validity of a Permanent Resident Card (PRC) (Form I-551) through an Application for Naturalization (Form N-400) receipt notice, without regard to whether the applicant has filed an Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card (Form I-90). This guidance becomes effective December 12, 2022.
- Explains that, beginning December 12, 2022, a Form N-400 receipt notice provides an automatic 24-month extension of the PRC and serves as valid, unexpired evidence of LPR status, when presented with the LPR’s expired PRC.
- Explains that naturalization applicants may not need to file Form I-90 while their Form N-400 is pending as a result of the 24-month extension period provided by their receipt notice.
