U.S. - 750,000 permanent residents may need new green cards

United States Citizen and Immigration Services (USCIS) has proposed a rule that would require permanent residents holding green cards with no expiration date to replace them. The rule would require the green card holders to replace their cards during a 120-day filing period.

Only green cards issued between 1979 and 1989 had no expiration date. After 1989, USCIS began issuing green cards with ten-year expiration dates.

According to the USCIS, the new rule would allow them to issue "more secure permanent resident cards, update cardholder information, conduct background checks, and electronically store applicants' fingerprint and photographic information."

If enacted, the rule would require lawful permanent residents to file an Application to Replace Lawful Permanent Residence Card (Form I-90) in order to replace their current green card. Form I-90 requires applicants to provide biographic and biometric information.

Once replaced, the new green card would need to be periodically renewed.

The rule also proposes a mechanism for terminating the offending green cards. Under this proposal, USCIS would be able to terminate green cards without an expiration date via notice in the Federal Register, a daily government publication of rules, proposed rules, executive orders, and other federal documents.

"Replacement of the outstanding permanent resident cards without expiration dates is critical to the national security mission of USCIS," USCIS said in a press release.

If enacted, an estimated 750,000 United States permanent residents would be affected by the proposed rule. Replacement green cards would cost an applicant a total of $370.