Employers and I-9 professionals should be aware that starting Monday, May 1, 2017, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will begin issuing a redesigned Permanent Resident Card (also known as a “Green Card” or Form I-551) and Employment Authorization Document (EAD or Form I-766). While the updated Green Card and EAD will contain bolder imagery and a few enhanced safety and fraud deterrence features, the cards will continue to serve the same purpose for employers’ I-9 verification obligations.
Under the new design, several features of the Green Cards and EADs are changing:
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The individual’s photo will be displayed on both sides of the card.
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Card imagery will be bolder:
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Green Cards will contain vivid imagery of the Statue of Liberty set against an American flag backdrop.
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EADs will contain vivid imagery of a bald eagle set against an American flag backdrop.
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Cards will contain embedded holographic images.
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Cards will no longer display cardholders’ signatures.
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USCIS will continue producing the existing versions of the Green Cards and EADs until the current card stock supply has been exhausted. Employers and I-9 professionals should note that although there are different designs of these cards, employers can continue to accept older design versions of the Green Card and EAD for I-9 verification purposes.
Sample images of the newly redesigned Green Card and EAD are available on the USCIS website.