Conditional Permanent Resident Cards Extended For 48 Months While I-751 Is Pending

In January 2023, USCIS extended the validity of Conditional Permanency Resident (CPR) Cards (i.e., Green Cards for spouses of U.S. citizens) for petitioners who properly and timely file Form I-751, Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence, or Form I-829, Petition by Investor to Remove Conditions on Permanent Resident Status, for 48 months beyond the card’s expiration date.

• Pre-pandemic, the normal extended validity period for CPR card holders with pending I-751s was 18 months. This most recent update is the second time, since COVID, that USCIS has elongated the extended validity period. In September 2021, USCIS extended the validity of CPR cards under the same circumstances from 18 months to 24 months.

• USCIS said they are now extending the validity period from 24 months to 48 months beyond the card’s expiration to accommodate longer processing times for Forms I-751 and I-829.

• USCIS will issue updated receipt notices to conditional permanent residents with pending I-751s or I-829s to reflect the 48 month extended validity period.

• Conditional permanent residents can present these receipt notices with an expired Green Card as evidence of continued status, while the case remains pending with USCIS. Together, with an updated receipt notice and expired Green Card, conditional permanent residents remain authorized to work and travel for 48 months from the expiration date on the front of the expired Green Card.

McCown & Evans will continue to monitor the new policies and will provide additional updates as information is released. And, as always, reach out to your attorney at McCown & Evans with any questions.