New Permanent Resident Card and Employment Authorization Document Design Effective January 30th
On the same day they began issuing the new cards, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) announced new designs for the Permanent Resident Card (also known as a “Green Card”) and Employment Authorization Document (“EAD”), beginning with any card issued on January 30, 2023. The USCIS website should be updated with the new designs; however, the cards feature new artwork and printing and use enhanced ink and holographic images on the front and back of the cards. Several data fields have also moved to different places than on previous versions.
The USCIS redesigns these cards every few years, with the current cards having been launched in May of 2017.
KEEP IN MIND – the new designs do not mean that any currently-issued cards are invalid; the new design only affects cards issued on or after January 30th. Current cards remain valid until the expiration date stated on the face of the card, unless extended by agency or Federal Register notice. There are even older versions of the Permanent Resident Card that have no expiration date and do not ever need to be replaced.
Please ensure that your on-boarding team is aware that new cards are in circulation and to familiarize themselves with the new design as soon as it becomes available on the USCIS website in the I-9 Central page.