ANNUAL IMMIGRATION SELF-AUDIT
If you are a non-citizen living in the U.S., it is recommended that you select a month each year to do an audit of your immigration documents and status. Here are the steps for your audit.
CHECK EXPIRATION DATES
Check the expiration dates on your visa, green card, passport, and work permit. If any of these documents is expiring, make sure you begin the process to renew them several months before the expiration date. Green cards are usually valid for 10 years and conditional green cards are valid for 2. Work permits are usually valid for 1 or 2 years. Passports are valid for 5 or 10 years and the expiration date of a visa is on the visa in your passport, but your stay in the U.S. is governed by the date stamped on your Form I-94, which can be obtained online.
FIGURE OUT FILING DEADLINES
You will need to renew or replace any expiring documents. You will be doing this using immigration forms or filing online. You’ll need to know how far in advance you should file your renewal in order to obtain your replacement document or receive an auto-extension of the expiring document. Applications to remove the conditions on your lawful permanent resident status should be filed no later than 90 days in advance and renewal of your lawful permanent resident card should be filed six months before it expires. Work permits should be renewed 120 days in advance. For passport renewals, you’ll need to check with your country’s embassy on how long it takes to obtain a new passport. Remember, if you have filed or are planning on filing for asylum or have been granted asylum or refugee status, you should consult with an immigration attorney before renewing your passport.
CONSULT AN IMMIGRATION LAWYER
Consult an immigration lawyer if you have never consulted with one since entry and have no permanent status. Yes, consultations cost money, but consider it an investment in yourself, your future, and your earning potential. Immigration law changes and benefits that were previously unavailable may now be, like Temporary Protected Status (TPS), Parole, Adjustment of Status to get a green card, U or T visa, Cancellation of removal, benefits under the Violence Against Women (and men) Act, or immigration sponsorship by your U.S. citizen child who is now 21 years of age.
DON’T TRAVEL WITH CONVICTIONS
If you have had any arrests or convictions and plan to travel, consult with an immigration attorney before you go. The same applies if you have pending criminal cases. Certain convictions, regardless of whether you served jail time, will impair your ability to return to the U.S. Drug convictions will prevent you from re-entering the U.S. after travel abroad.
CHANGE YOUR ADDRESS
USCIS requires you to change your address within 10 days of your move. Changing your address with the U.S. Postal Service will not change your address with USCIS. If you are in removal or deportation proceedings, the Immigration Courts require you to change your address within 5 days of moving.