US Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS) has introduced a new way to file the Form I-90, Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card. Lawful permanent residents (i.e., Green Card holders) who file the online Form I-90, without assistance from an attorney or accredited representative, can now file the I-90 and upload the necessary evidence entirely on a mobile device. This redesign of the online Form I-90—which applicants use to renew or replace a Green Card—also allows lawful permanent residents to navigate the online site more easily and should, USCIS claims, make the overall process of renewing or replacing Green Cards “more convenient.” The I-90 is one form that can easily be prepared and filed by foreign nationals themselves without the assistance of attorneys. Protima previously discussed the process of applying for an I-90, which is helpful knowledge in case the Green Card is ever lost (God forbid!) or needs to be replaced or renewed.
USCIS says there are no substantive changes to the policy or content of the online I-90 form, and the online version has “parity” with questions and content on the paper version of the form. The redesigned online I-90 form is meant to provide a more personalized experience, since applicants are directed to answer only questions specific to their case. Moreover, the new mobile-responsive design provides an “intuitive method for answering questions, navigating through sections, and uploading evidence on a mobile device.” To include evidence on the application, such as a copy of government-issued identification, USCIS recommends taking photos of the evidence and uploading directly from the mobile devices.
Applicants can access the online Form I-90 through myUSCIS by creating a USCIS online account. There is no fee to set up an account (although the Form I-90 has a filing fee), and the myUSCIS account offers a variety of features including the ability to track the status of an application and to communicate with USCIS through a secure inbox. Applicants who wish to file Form I-90 with the assistance of an attorney or accredited representative should continue to use the previous version of the online or paper Form I-90.
USCIS has long tried to implement electronic versions of the forms and has spent millions trying to do so, with limited results. (Currently only the Form I-90 is available to be completely filed online.) Making forms accessible via mobile devices or smartphones seems like the next natural step, and one that will surely be welcomed by many tech-savvy users.