On Monday (30), the Biden Administration unveiled a new design for Permanent Resident Cards, also known as green cards, and Employment Authorization Cards (EADs). The change comes alongside a series of measures adopted to enhance the security of immigration documents.
The new cards began to be issued by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) on Monday. Older cards will remain valid until their expiration date, meaning there is no need to change your document until it expires. However, USCIS encourages individuals with older models without an expiration date to take this opportunity to request a replacement to avoid fraud if the old card is lost or stolen.
“This new design further demonstrates USCIS’s commitment to taking a proactive approach against the threat of tampering, counterfeiting, and fraud of documents,” said USCIS Director Ur Jaddou in a statement.
According to USCIS, the current card design was introduced in May 2017, and the agency plans to issue new designs every three to five years as part of its fraud prevention program.
Green Cards and EADs serve as proof of authorization to reside and work in the United States for qualified immigrants.
According to the Department of Homeland Security, there are nearly 13 million legal permanent residents in the United States – this number fell by 1.7% from 2021 to 2022, as more permanent residents opted to pursue naturalization.USCIS Extends the Validity of the Green Card for Conditional Permanent Residents
USCIS also recently announced that it is extending the validity of Permanent Resident Cards for individuals who have filed and submitted Form I-751, Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence, or Form I-829, Investor Petition to Remove Conditions on Permanent Resident Status, from 24 months to 48 months after the card’s expiration date. This change took effect on January 11, 2023, for Form I-829 and on January 25, 2023, for Form I-751.
According to USCIS, the extension of validity aims to align the document’s timeframe with the current processing time for Form I-751 and Form I-829, which increased last year.