Do I Need To Replace My Green Card If My Name Changes?
A Green Card also known as the Permanent Resident Card, is the evidence of your status as a Lawful Permanent Resident with a right to live and work permanently in the United States. By law, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services or USCIS, expects green card holders to intimate USCIS about certain changes like change of name or biographic information, loss or damage of the green card.
If you have changed your name due to marriage or other personal reasons, since you received the Green Card or alien registration number, you should file Form I-90 to replace green card. It is important to keep the information in the Green Card up-to-date as it allows you to live, and work in the U.S., leave and enter the U.S. anytime and to become a U.S. Citizen. Therefore update any name change as soon as possible, to avoid fraudulence.
The following steps take you to an easy way to replace green card due to marriage-based name change
- From a notary public make certified copies of your marriage certificate.
- Apply for new identification forms for Social Security Card and driver's license in the Social Security Office, and the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) respectively with a copy of your marriage certificate.
- File Form I-90 to replace green card.
If you provide a proof of your legal marriage document, with a specific request for name change due to marriage your Form I-90 application to replace green card will not be denied.
If you have changed your name legally the following steps will lead you to replace green card
- Apply for new identification forms for Social Security Card and driver's license in the Social Security Office, and the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) respectively with your original court order stating your legal name change.
- File Form I-90 to replace green card.
The purpose of Form I-90 is to replace green card or permanent resident card. Form I-90 cannot be used if you are a conditional resident and your status is expiring. When you file Form I-90 to replace green card the following documents should be submitted.
- A copy of the original court order that your name has been changed legally.
- If you changed your name because of marriage, submit a certified copy of your marriage certificate.
If your marriage certificate is in a foreign language, you should submit a translation in English from an authorized translator.
- Supporting documents such as Social Security Card, driver's license stating new name.
- The filing fee for Form I-90.
After you have filed Form I-90, you will get a receipt number from USCIS, using it you can check the status of your application. You will be intimated about your appointment for the biometrics. Report for the biometric appointment at the specified date, if your unable to appear for biometrics, reschedule your appointment with USCIS. When you have completed with the above your green card is at your hand.[
