Quick answer. USCIS's Policy Manual says a permanent resident uses Form I-90 when the green card is expiring within 6 months. A conditional resident with a 2-year card can't use Form I-90 to remove conditions. Only a licensed attorney or a Department of Justice accredited representative at a recognized organization can give immigration legal advice; a notario público can't.
When does the Form I-90 window open for my card?
Choose the card type and enter its expiration date.
This is not legal advice. It is a paperwork organizer that repeats what USCIS and the Department of Justice publish. Immigration cases depend on details. For advice about your situation, talk to a licensed immigration attorney or a DOJ-accredited representative at a recognized organization.
Where to get real legal help
The Department of Justice says it accredits non-lawyer representatives only when they work or volunteer for a recognized organization. A fully accredited representative can represent clients before USCIS and the immigration courts (EOIR); a partially accredited one only before USCIS. Attorneys may appear without DOJ recognition. DOJ also says a recognized organization that charges for services must show it primarily serves low-income clients, with fees geared to them. The EOIR roster reports list recognized organizations and accredited representatives, including a list by state.
A notary public is not a lawyer. In the United States, a notary checks identity and witnesses signatures; a notary can't advise you on immigration, choose forms or file for you. See a notary is not an immigration lawyer and what a notary can and can't do for immigration paperwork in New Jersey.
Renewing a 10-year green card
- When. The USCIS Policy Manual says a permanent resident must use Form I-90 when the card is expiring within 6 months.
- Receipt notice. The Policy Manual says the Form I-90 receipt notice, presented with your card, also serves as evidence that USCIS extended the card's validity. Keep the notice with the card; the notice states the period.
- Conditional residents. People with a 2-year card can't use Form I-90 to remove conditions, and can't file Form I-90 for any reason in the 90 days before the second anniversary of getting permanent resident status.
- Fee and edition. Check the current fee and form edition on uscis.gov on the day you file. This page doesn't list fees.
Naturalization basics
The USCIS Policy Manual lists the general requirements: age 18 or older at filing; permanent resident for at least five years; continuous residence as a permanent resident for at least five years immediately before filing; physical presence in the United States for at least 30 months of those five years; living within the state or USCIS district with jurisdiction over your home; good moral character for five years before filing; attachment to the principles of the Constitution; and the ability to read, write, speak and understand English, with knowledge of U.S. history and government. The Policy Manual covers special provisions for some groups and lists a 90-day early filing provision (INA 334(a), 8 CFR 334.2(b)); read it or ask your legal representative before you count days.
USCIS's 10 steps: check whether you may already be a citizen, review the eligibility worksheet, prepare Form N-400, submit it and receive a receipt notice, attend biometrics if asked, attend the interview, receive the decision, take the Oath of Allegiance at a ceremony ("You are not a U.S. citizen until you take the Oath"), then review your Certificate of Naturalization and tell USCIS about any errors.
N-400 documents and the interview
USCIS's what-to-expect page says to fill out Form N-400, gather your documents, get two passport-style photos, and submit everything with the required fees. For the interview it lists:
- Your interview appointment notice
- Your Permanent Resident Card (Form I-551)
- A state-issued ID, such as a driver's license
- All valid and expired passports and travel documents that show your absences from the United States since becoming a permanent resident
- Other documents listed on Form M-477, Document Checklist
Civics test study materials
USCIS's Study for the Test page has the official list of civics questions and answers (also in large print and a text-only version for screen readers), flashcards, online practice quizzes, printed guides and videos, and the civics questions in Arabic, Korean, Spanish and Vietnamese.
Biometrics appointments
- Bring your appointment notice (Form I-797C), every notice if you got more than one, and valid photo ID such as your green card, passport or driver's license.
- To reschedule, call the USCIS Contact Center before the appointment and show good cause. If you miss it without calling first, USCIS may not reschedule and may treat the case as abandoned.
- At the appointment you sign digitally and attest, under penalty of perjury, that what you filed is complete, true and correct. Review your copy beforehand.
Keep copies and avoid scams
Keep a copy of every page you send, every receipt notice and every letter, with the date you mailed or uploaded it. USCIS's scam flyer says only attorneys and accredited representatives are authorized to give you legal advice, that a notario público is not authorized to provide legal services for immigration benefits, that USCIS will never ask you to transfer money to an individual or pay a person on the phone or by email, and that it doesn't accept Western Union, MoneyGram, PayPal or gift cards. USCIS says to report scams to your state consumer protection office, and that you can always report them to the Federal Trade Commission.
Official sources
- USCIS Policy Manual, Volume 11, Part B, Chapter 2: Replacement of Permanent Resident Card
- USCIS Policy Manual, Volume 12, Part D, Chapter 1: general naturalization requirements
- USCIS Policy Manual, Volume 12: Citizenship and Naturalization
- USCIS: 10 steps to naturalization
- USCIS: Citizenship, what to expect
- USCIS: Form N-400, Application for Naturalization
- USCIS: Study for the test
- USCIS: Preparing for your biometric services appointment
- USCIS: Protect yourself from immigration scams (flyer)
- USCIS: Report immigration scams
- U.S. Department of Justice, EOIR: Recognition and accreditation roster reports
- U.S. Department of Justice, EOIR: Recognition and accreditation program FAQs
Checked November 2026.
General information checked November 2026 against the official sources above. It is an organizer and checklist, not legal, benefits, immigration, tax or financial advice, and it never decides what you qualify for: the agency does. MCC Solutions is not affiliated with SSA, VA, USCIS, the Department of Justice or the State of New Jersey. The tool on this page runs in your browser, and nothing you enter is sent or saved.
Common questions
Can a notary help me fill out my N-400 or I-90?
No. USCIS says a notario público is not authorized to provide legal services for immigration benefits, and only attorneys and accredited representatives can give legal advice. A notary can witness a signature when a document needs one.
When should I renew my 10-year green card?
The USCIS Policy Manual says a permanent resident uses Form I-90 when the card is expiring within 6 months. Check uscis.gov for the current form, fee and filing options.
I have a 2-year green card. Do I use Form I-90?
Not to remove conditions. The Policy Manual says conditional residents may not use Form I-90 for that, and can't file Form I-90 for any reason in the 90 days before the second anniversary of their status. Ask an attorney or accredited representative which form applies.
What do I bring to a biometrics appointment?
Your appointment notice (Form I-797C), all notices if you got more than one, and valid photo ID such as your green card, passport or driver's license.
Where can I find low-cost legal help?
The Department of Justice EOIR publishes roster reports of recognized organizations and accredited representatives, including a list by state. DOJ says recognized organizations that charge fees must primarily serve low-income clients.
Related free pages
- A notary is not an immigration lawyer
- Immigration paperwork: what a notary can and can't do
- Power of attorney for property abroad: for families handling property or papers in another country.
- Family Emergency Binder: a home for copies of passports, cards and certificates.
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