U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) sent out an email blast today letting everyone know that starting today they will be issuing newly designed Green Cards and Employment Authorization Cards with "state-of-the-art technology to safeguard national security and improve service for...customers."
USCIS issued a press release January 30, 2023, regarding the newly designed cards.
The new designs for these cards are meant to increase security and reduce fraud, presumably making them more difficult to counterfeit. Images of the new designs were posted by USCIS on their Instagram and Twitter pages.
The new design for these cards include several new security features. These features are described to be state-of-the-art technologies to prevent fraud and counterfeiting. The new design features include:
- Improved detailed artwork;
- New 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.
The introduction of these new cards does not affect your existing card. If your card is not expired, then you do not need to get a new one.
This is the first time the cards are being changed since May 2017. You can find out more on the USCIS website or below.
According to the USCIS press release:
“This redesign further demonstrates USCIS’ commitment to taking a proactive approach against the threat of secure document tampering, counterfeiting, and fraud,” said USCIS Director Ur M. Jaddou. “Consistent updates to secure documents, informed by our knowledge of the latest methods of bad actors and the innovation and ingenuity of our staff, ensure the continued integrity of secure documents issued by our agency.”
You may still be issued a card with the old design after January 30, 2023. USCIS notes on their website that they will continue making cards with the current design until they use what remains of the previous card stock.
The USCIS website further clarifies that the introduction of these new cards does not invalidate older unexpired cards. The press release states, "[t]he introduction of the new designs does not mean that currently issued cards are invalid. Current cards remain valid until their expiration date (unless otherwise noted, such as through an automatic extension of a Green Card or EAD as indicated on a Form I-797, Notice of Action, or in a Federal Register notice)."
The new Green Card and EAD designs include:
- State-of-the-art technology that continues to safeguard national security and improve service for our customers;
- Improved detailed artwork;
- New 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.
Background
To mitigate the risk of fraud and counterfeiting, we redesign the cards every three to five years. We launched the current cards in May 2017.
The introduction of the new designs does not mean that currently issued cards are invalid. Current cards generally remain valid until their expiration date (unless otherwise noted, such as through an automatic extension of a Green Card or EAD as indicated on a Form I-797, Notice of Action, or in a Federal Register notice). Some older Green Cards also do not have an expiration date. These older Green Cards without an expiration date generally remain valid.
Engagement and Outreach
USCIS will host a national engagement on the new designs of the Green Card and EAD. We will send an invitation in the coming days.
For more information on USCIS and our programs, please visit uscis.gov or follow us on Twitter (@uscis), YouTube (/uscis), Facebook (/uscis) and Instagram (@USCIS).
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