Noman Sabit:The U.S. immigration system has faced growing strain, with a backlog of pending applications reaching an all-time high of 11.3 million, according to data from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
The slowdown in processing and rising delays have left millions of applicants in a state of legal and personal limbo, and green card replacement delays have added to the frustration. Form I‑90 processing times have increased dramatically, now taking more than eight months to complete. Despite this surge in wait times, experts say green card holders should not panic.
“While it may be surprising, from a legal and practical perspective, the sharp increase in Form I-90 processing times is not of concern. There is already a policy fix in place,” Morgan Bailey, a partner at Mayer Brown and former senior official at the Department of Homeland Security, told Newsweek. When a lawful permanent resident files a Form I‑90 to renew an expiring green card, USCIS immediately issues a receipt notice, which automatically extends the validity of the expired card for 48 months.
“Presenting the expired green card alongside the receipt notice is legally equivalent to having an unexpired green card. The receipt notice itself includes language explaining that it extends the green card, so there should not be confusion on the part of employers, airlines, or others. “An expired green card does not mean an expired status.”
USCIS has long acknowledged that it prioritizes applications that impact an individual’s immigration status more directly, diverting resources away from lower-risk tasks like card renewals.
Still, for the millions caught in the backlog, the key is understanding that status remains intact, and the paperwork, though delayed, does not affect the right to live and work in the U.S.
If green card holders need to prove their status to employers, airlines, or immigration officers while waiting for their new card, the receipt notice plus the expired card is fully valid. Those without either document can request an ADIT (I‑551) stamp at a local USCIS office, which serves as temporary proof of permanent residency for work, travel, or reentry to the country.
“This is somewhat similar to a US citizen whose status remains unchanged even if they don’t have a valid passport. We can think of it like an expired passport—you are still a citizen,” Bailey said. While the backlog highlights wider strains in the immigration system, experts stress that understanding the protections in place can help green card holders avoid unnecessary worry—and stay legally covered until their new card arrives.
“The filing of the Form I-90 does not actually confer an immigration benefit—it simply updates the physical proof of the individual’s status. Permanent resident status doesn’t expire, even if the card does—and is only lost through formal government action,” Bailey said.
The Trump administration has revoked visas and green cards of foreign students that they have alleged are connected to pro-Hamas activities. This includes participating in campus protests and distributing materials, such as flyers.
The moves come amid an aggressive deportation agenda after President Donald Trump directed his administration to remove millions of undocumented immigrants as part of a hard line mass removal policy. Beyond targeting those without legal status, immigrants with valid visas and green cards have also faced detention under the government’s sweeping enforcement operations. Newsweek has documented numerous cases involving green-card holders and applicants being caught up in the immigration raids.
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