Updated Green Card And EAD Designs Enhance Safety Features, No Changes For I-9 Purposes

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:

The individual's photo will be displayed on both sides of the card. Card imagery will be bolder: Green Cards will contain vivid imagery of the Statue of Liberty set against an American flag backdrop. EADs will contain vivid imagery of a bald eagle set against an American flag backdrop. Cards will contain embedded holographic images. Cards will no longer display cardholders' signatures. USCIS will...