New Green Card Designs
Green card applicants can soon expect their issued cards to look quite a bit different. Late last month, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced new designs to improve security of Permanent Resident Cards and Employment Authorization Documents (EADs). The existing design was last updated in 2017. USCIS began issuing the redesigned cards on January 30, 2023; however, some people may still receive the older version, as USCIS uses up existing cardstock.
Changes in the documents will include:
- improved detailed artwork
- tactile printing that is better integrated with the artwork
- enhanced optically variable ink
- highly secure holographic images on the front and back of the cards
- a layer-reveal feature with a partial window on the back photo box, and
- data fields displayed in different places than on previous versions.
Of course, cards with the current design will still be valid until their expiration date, at which point recipients can expect to receive one of the updated versions.
USCIS Plans for the Next 4 Years
In other news, USCIS also released its strategic plan for the next 4 years (2023-2026), some of which will work “to achieve the Biden-Harris Administration’s vision for our nation’s immigration system, one that is based on trust, strength, inclusion, integrity, and accessibility.”
There is some positive language included about “promoting integration, inclusion, and citizenship,” as well as a plan to invest in the USCIS workforce, which could mean more staff and shorter application response times (we hope!).
As always, we will keep you posted on the latest developments in immigration news and policy. Stay tuned to this newsletter and our blog, and contact us to discuss all your immigration-related questions!