Good News for Green Card Replacement: Those who need to either renew or replace their green cards may now do it online. Green cards have an expiration date that is normally 10 years from the date of approval of the green card application. The expiration date is listed on the card. Although permanent resident (Green Card) status does not expire, the card itself expires.
What does this mean?
It means that even though your card expires, your permanent residence status does not expire. You remain a permanent resident as long as you can prove that you have the intent to live permanently in the US and do not do something that makes you deportable. For example, many kinds of criminal convictions can make you deportable.
What happens when my Green Card expires?
If you travel outside the US, you may have a difficult time returning to the US with an expired green card.
You may have trouble beginning new employment with an expired green card.
What if I have a two-year (conditional) green card?
A conditional green card is valid for two years. When you a have a conditional green card you must file an application to remove the condition within the 90 day period before it expires. In this case, your permanent residence (green card) status does expire unless your application to remove the two-year condition is approved.
To determine when you became a permanent resident, the date that your conditional permanent residence application was approved is the date to use. For example, if you became a conditional permanent resident on January 1, 2014, and your application to remove the condition was approved, your green card would expire January 1, 2024.
For more information on how to replace or renew your green card see Replace Green Card.