(US) Would I become undocumented or lose my right to work if my Naturalization petition is processed after my Green Card expires?
My Green Card expires early next year. Due to financial constraints I have been unable to submit the paperwork to apply for naturalization until now (well, next month). Today I checked the processing time for naturalization petitions to be processed at my local USCIS branch and the processing time falls after my green card is set to expire. This leaves me with a few questions:
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If a naturalization petition has been submitted but has not been processed, would I lose my right to reside and work in the US after my Green Card expires or would the pending naturalization petition provide a temporary work and residency status until my naturalization petition is processed?
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Would it be better to apply for a Green Card renewal instead and then file for naturalization afterwards? This is a concern as the USCIS rules state that renewal applications can only be started 6 months before the card expires and the processing time for such applications is 11.5 months, which would also mean my card expires in the interim. Just as before, would I retain some kind of authorization to live and work in the US as the renewal application is waiting to be processed or would I have to abandon my job, home, life etc and leave the US until the application for renewal is accepted?
I also intend to contact an Immigration attorney as that seems to be the prudent thing to do given the circumstances. Thanks for any input that you guys can provide. 
Posted Aug 26, 2019, 1:22 AM UTC
Expiration of a green card does not indicate expiration of permanent resident status. You continue to be a permanent resident with all the rights and responsibilities so attached so long as you maintain such status, even if your green card is expired on its face.
If your green card is nearing expiration while your naturalization application is still pending, you can make an appointment with a USCIS office to receive an I-551 stamp in your passport or on an I-94 evidencing that you are a permanent resident.
Thanks for the great advice - that has certainly stopped a lot of anxiety I had regarding this situation. I was worried that i’d have to leave until it was processed and approved.
Follow up question to this. I renwed my UK passport before moving here and it expires in 2020. Would the passport need more validity in order to get stamped? I have been meaning to get it replaced anyway but wonder if the expiration in 2020 would pose a problem.
If the passport would expire before the end of the 12 months an I-551 stamp is usually issued for, then they can issue it on an I-94 or limit the stamp's validity to the validity of the passport.