Legal advisory on Green Card status

By: Mohsin Hemani

ADC urges all legal permanent residents (green card holders) to keep their "Green Card" properly current by renewing it with the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS).

According to the INS, "Green Cards" (Form I-551) are valid for 10 years. All green card holders are required to renew their "Green Card" within six months before its expiration date. The expiration date on a "Green Card" can be found on the front of the card below the alien number.

To renew an expiring or an expired "Green Card," holders must complete Form I-90, "Application to Replace Permanent Residence Card." After completing Form I-90, green card holders need to take the form and the "Green Card" to an INS Application Support Center in their local area. Green card holders can get a Form I-90 with instructions on how to fill the application and where to file it locally by calling the INS National Customer Service Center at 1-800-375-5283. More information may also be obtained by visiting the INS website at http://www.ins.usdoj.gov .

If you have any questions concerning this issue, please contact the ADC Legal Department by calling (202) 244-2990, faxing (202) 244-3196 or sending an email to legal@adc.org 

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Info on notification of address change to INS

By: FragranceJunction.com

On August 5, the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) issued an Immigration Law Advisory regarding the Justice Department's decision to enforce a 50 year-old-law that requires non-citizens to report to the INS any change of address within 10 days of relocating.

Since then ADC has received numerous phone calls and e-mail messages inquiring about the law, specifically who is affected by this provision, what documents and forms must be filed to comply with the law, and where to file the form among other questions. ADC is providing the following information for your assistance. The information is simply to inform you of your obligation to inform INS of your address change and is not intended as legal advice. You alone are responsible for complying with the law.

Under the law, anyone who is not a U.S. citizen must notify the INS of any change of address within 10 days of relocation if the person has moved since his or her first admission to the United States. Failure to comply with the law is a misdemeanor, punishable by a $200 fine, and/or up to 30 days in prison and can constitute a violation of one's immigration status making one subject to deportation. The law affects:

- Legal Permanent Residents (green card holders), Asylees, or Refugees;

- Non-citizens with valid non-immigrant status, such as students, visitors, alien workers authorized and lawfully employed in the United States;

- Non-citizens who have a scheduled hearing or trial date in immigration court.

All persons that fall into the above-mentioned categories must complete Form AR-11 (Aliens Change of Address Card) and must mail the form to the following address:

U.S. Department of Justice Immigration and Naturalization Service HQ ORM, 425 I Street N.W. ULLICO 4th Floor Washington DC 20536

No filing fee is required. A copy of the form may be obtained by logging to http://www.ins.gov/graphics/formsfee/forms/ar-11.htm 

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American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee

4201 Connecticut Ave., N.W., Suite 300

Washington, D.C. 20008, U.S.A.

Tel: (202) 244-2990, Fax: (202) 244-3196

E-mail: adc@adc.org 

Web : http://www.adc.org 

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