For any immigrant residing in the US, a valid permanent resident card is a must. Depending on the type of card you own you will have to renew or replace the card. Certain permanent resident cards also known as green cards come with a validity of 10 years. Similarly, a conditional permanent resident card is valid for 2 years.
In both these cases, you must renew the card before the expiry date because a PR card is sort of an identification document that makes your stay and work in the US legal. Once the card expires you are no more eligible to live, work or travel in America.
When Should You Renew or Replace Your Permanent Resident Card?
If your card is valid for 10 years then you must renew it at least a couple of months before it expires. In the case it has already expired then you must immediately submit a renewal application for the permanent resident card. For those with conditional PR card, it is important to remove the condition by filing a petition before the card expires. To be on the safer side you must file the petition 90 days before the expiry of the card.
In the case the immigration office accepts your petition then you will receive a green card that is valid for 10 years. You will need to replace the permanent resident card if you have lost it or it was stolen. You can also apply for a replacement if there is some information on the card that you intend to change.
Those who received the PR card before they were 14 years of age should also apply for replacement of permanent resident card after they become 14 plus. For both renewal and replacement, you will have to file Form I-90, Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card. For detailed information on the same, you can visit https://www.uscis.gov/.
Those with the conditional permanent resident card do not need to apply through Form I-90. As mentioned before they must file a petition and first get a green card. In the case, you were offered the conditional PR card based on marriage then you will have to fill-up the Form I-751, Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence.
Conditional permanent residents who came to the US as investors or entrepreneurs should file Form I-829, Petition by Entrepreneur to Remove
Conditions on Permanent Resident Status
What If My PR Card Does Not Mention an Expiry Date?
Old permanent resident cards did not carry an expiry date. But that does not mean that it has an eternal validity. If you do own such an old version of the permanent resident card then you need to renew it as the old card is no more valid.