ATF 4473 and expired GC or applying for citizenship

georgiacatweazle · June 10, 2015, 11:07 AM

in about 6 weeks my GC will expire, I will still be a permanent resident. I am not sure if I will renew it or apply for citizenship.
How will this effect firearms purchases ?
The 4473 requires an A# and i assume the photocopy the FFL will take of my GC will obviously be expired.
does this matter ?

natman · June 10, 2015, 11:29 AM

Just on general principles, I would advise that you not let your GC expire until you ARE a citizen.

I don't know the exact answer to the 4773 question, but I do know that things would go a lot smoother with a current GC than without. I expect that would be true for a lot of things.

**Tom Servo** · June 10, 2015, 11:36 AM

The green card is a required piece of identification on the 4473. If it's expired, it's generally not considered valid.

**Aguila Blanca** · June 10, 2015, 04:40 PM

You need to renew your green card -- immediately. My late wife missed on hers by about a week, and it cost us two-plus years and several thousand dollars in attorney fees to get it straightened out.

If your green card expires before you become a citizen, you are no longer a legal resident alien. Period. Forget about buying guns, your goal at that point will be to avoid being caught and deported.

"An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cures."

**Tom Servo** · June 10, 2015, 05:30 PM

Quote:

If your green card expires before you become a citizen, you are no longer a legal resident alien.

He won't lose his status under the expired card. However, travel and employment could be adversely affected.

**Aguila Blanca** · June 11, 2015, 06:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tom Servo

He won't lose his status under the expired card. However, travel and employment could be adversely affected.

With respect, Tom, that's not what the .gov told my wife. We avoided deportation only by paying a land shark several thousand dollars to initiate an appeal process, which took a couple or three years, a lot of time, and additional money to see through to a successful conclusion.

My advice, based on first-hand experience, is DO NOT allow a green card to expire unless you either (a) have attained citizenship, or (b) are leaving the U.S. and don't have any intention of coming back.

**Tom Servo** · June 11, 2015, 10:50 AM

Quote:

With respect, Tom, that's not what the .gov told my wife. We avoided deportation only by paying a land shark several thousand dollars to initiate an appeal process

If she had the 2-year conditional card, the law does allow for deportation if the I-751 isn't done in time. Generally, status is only lost through abandonment (leaving the country) or criminal conviction.

TimSr · June 11, 2015, 02:13 PM

Whether it changes your status or not, it will save you a lot of headaches to be able to whip out a card and prove your status is legal than to go through alternative means to prove it. Even when you are right, trying to get an error straightened out can be a costly nightmare.

My advise would be to make a decision one way or the other and apply for citizenship or a green card renewal NOW. If you have a citizenship application pending, it may not be necessary to renew your green card while its pending. it might also be realistic to expect to have trouble buying additional guns during your limbo period.

June 10, 2015, 11:07 AM	#1
georgiacatweazle Senior Member Join Date: December 6, 2013 Posts: 246	ATF 4473 and expired GC or applying for citizenship in about 6 weeks my GC will expire, I will still be a permanent resident. I am not sure if I will renew it or apply for citizenship. How will this effect firearms purchases ? The 4473 requires an A# and i assume the photocopy the FFL will take of my GC will obviously be expired. does this matter ? __________________ "If you think it's expensive to hire a professional to do the job, wait until you hire an amateur." Red Adair

June 10, 2015, 11:36 AM	#3
Tom Servo Staff Join Date: September 27, 2008 Location: Foothills of the Appalachians Posts: 13,059	The green card is a required piece of identification on the 4473. If it's expired, it's generally not considered valid. __________________ Sometimes it’s nice not to destroy the world for a change. --Randall Munroe

June 10, 2015, 11:29 AM	#2
natman Senior Member Join Date: June 24, 2008 Posts: 2,607	Just on general principles, I would advise that you not let your GC expire until you ARE a citizen. I don't know the exact answer to the 4773 question, but I do know that things would go a lot smoother with a current GC than without. I expect that would be true for a lot of things.

June 10, 2015, 04:40 PM	#4
Aguila Blanca Staff Join Date: September 25, 2008 Location: CONUS Posts: 18,468	You need to renew your green card -- immediately. My late wife missed on hers by about a week, and it cost us two-plus years and several thousand dollars in attorney fees to get it straightened out. If your green card expires before you become a citizen, you are no longer a legal resident alien. Period. Forget about buying guns, your goal at that point will be to avoid being caught and deported. "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cures."

June 11, 2015, 02:13 PM	#8
TimSr Senior Member Join Date: March 8, 2013 Location: Rittman, Ohio Posts: 2,074	Whether it changes your status or not, it will save you a lot of headaches to be able to whip out a card and prove your status is legal than to go through alternative means to prove it. Even when you are right, trying to get an error straightened out can be a costly nightmare. My advise would be to make a decision one way or the other and apply for citizenship or a green card renewal NOW. If you have a citizenship application pending, it may not be necessary to renew your green card while its pending. it might also be realistic to expect to have trouble buying additional guns during your limbo period.