Form I-551 New

A New I-551 Card

The Immigration and Naturalization Service has issued a new version of the I-551 card that joins the other editions still in circulation. Although the new card retains the same form number, I-551, this newest version is called the “Permanent Resident Card.” Like previous editions, the new card is issued to immigrants admitted as permanent residents and entitles them to live and work in the United States. Older versions of the I-551 may be used until their expiration dates, if any, and then replaced with the new card.

(not to scale)

The front contains the name, birth date, country of birth and INS “A” number, along with a digitized

color photograph and fingerprint. An imbedded hologram with images of: the Statue of Liberty with

rays emanating from its torch, an outline map of the United States, the INS seal, the letters “USA,” and

the words “United States of America,” alternating with “US Immigration and Naturalization Service.”

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE Immigration and Naturalization Service

PERMANENT RESIDENT CARD

The person identified by this card is authorized to work and reside in the U.S.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

(picture) CRITTENDEN, LEE, W INS CARD #

DOB: EXP:

A#

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

<|||| |||| || ||||||||||| || |||||||||||||||||| || |||||| ||||||||||| || 449325 I-551

The back contains an optical memory stripe that stores the cardholder’s photograph and other information etched by laser into the card to prevent erasure or alteration. This feature makes the card machine- readable by INS scanners to verify the card. There are also additional hidden security features. As a further safeguard, the card has been designed so that tampering with the laminated cover causes it to fall apart.

(Rev. May 1,1999)