Recently, the USCIS updated the policy manual, and automatically extended the validity period of the green card for naturalized applicants; this policy will officially take effect on December 12, 2022 .
Source: Screenshot of the official website of the US Immigration Bureau
After this policy is updated, regardless of whether the I-90 form is submitted or not, the Immigration Bureau will update the N-400 form to automatically extend the validity period of the green card for applicants .
Background of the New Deal
The basis of the New Deal is that the N-400 form has a 180-day or 6-month processing goal, which makes it unnecessary to submit the I-90 form at least 6 months before the green card expiration date.
New policy recognizes the current status of the US Immigration Bureau's current processing time, and improves flexibility and efficiency by reducing the number of appointments and I-90 forms submitted by field offices, so that resources can be concentrated in other immigration benefits rulings. extension applies to all applicants who file Form N-400 on or after December 12, 2022.
N-400 Form (Naturalization Application)
Before December 12, LPRs applying for naturalization will not receive a notice of the N-400 form extension receipt. If the green card expires, you still need to submit a Form I-90 or stamp the ADIT seal on your passport to maintain a legal permanent residence status . Legal permanent residence for lost green card is generally required to submit Form I-90, even if you have applied for naturalization and have obtained automatic extension. Because non-citizens must carry evidence of registration (such as green cards and any extensions) or they may be subject to criminal prosecution under the Immigration and Nationality Act 264(e).
At the same time, applicants who need ADIT seal can contact the US Immigration Contact Center and request an appointment at the US Immigration Office.
U.S. Immigration Bureau official website screenshot
extension period: up to 24 months
Previously, the Immigration Bureau's policy was that applicants who apply for naturalization at least 6 months before the expiration of green card need to submit Form I-90 (an application to replace the permanent green card) to maintain legal status. Applicants who apply for naturalization at least 6 months before the expiration of the green card can obtain a foreigner's ID, identity and ADIT seal on their passport, and serves as temporary evidence of their long-term residence status.
The new policy requires that if the application time is within the extended expiration time specified in the notification, you can submit the receipt notice + expired green card as evidence of identity and employment authorization under List A of the Identity and Employment Qualification Verification (I-9)
latest naturalization
According to data from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the Census Bureau, the naturalization level of 2021 (October 1, 2020 to September 30, 2021) and 2022 fiscal year (October 1, 2021 to September 30, 2022) exceeds most years before the epidemic.
A naturalization ceremony in the United States in fiscal year 2022
It is estimated that the number of naturalized people in fiscal year 2022 will reach 940,000 , higher than any year since fiscal year 2008 (1.047 million immigrants were naturalized in 2008).
Pew Research Center analyzed that in the past decade, about 200,000 people applied for naturalization to the United States every quarter. The number of applications dropped to 154,000 from April to June 2020 shortly after the outbreak began, but rebounded to 330,000 from July to September.
Pew Research Center report screenshot
As of the end of June 2022, there were about 673,000 pending naturalization applications. Although the number of pending applications was smaller than the number of pending applications in December 2020, it is still higher than the 2012-2016 period.
According to the latest estimate, between 1995 and 2019, the total number of naturalized citizens in the United States increased from 7.6 million to 22.1 million, a triple increase. The number of legal permanent residents, i.e. immigrants who may be eligible for naturalization but have not yet been naturalized, have changed relatively little during this period, maintaining between 11.2 million and 12.4 million. The median processing time for the naturalization application case increased from 9.1 months in fiscal year 2020 (October 1, 2019 to September 30, 2020) to 10.5 months in fiscal year 2022.
