FRESNO, Calif. – New permanent residents and immigrant employees will now be receiving high tech cards and authorizations from the United States Customs and Immigration Service. Datatech software, which supports many farm labor contractors and growing and packing operations have learned that the new documents will start to be issued this month. The new Permanent Resident Card or Green Card and the Employment Authorization Document, known as an EAD are part of the Next Generation Secure Identification Document Project.
A USCIS spokesperson says, “These redesigns use enhanced graphics and fraud-resistant security features to create cards that are highly secure and more tamper-resistant than the ones currently in use.”
The new card designs are part of the USCIS’ proactive approach against fraud. They’re also part of an ongoing effort between USCIS, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and U.S. Immigration and Customs
Enforcement to enhance fraud protections.
According to the USCIS the new Green Cards and EAD’s will:
- Display the individual’s photos on both sides;
- Show a unique graphic image and color palette:
- Green Cards will have an image of the Statue of Liberty and a predominately green palette;
- EAD cards will have an image of a bald eagle and a predominately red palette;
- Have embedded holographic images; and
- No longer display the individual’s signature.
Also, Green Cards will no longer have an optical stripe on the back.
If you’d like to know if your card is still valid it’s important to know that some Green Cards and EADs issued after May 1, 2017, may still display the existing design format. The immigration service will continue using existing cardstock until current supplies are used up. Both the existing and the new Green Cards and EADs will remain valid until the expiration date shown on the card.
Certain EADs held by individuals with Temporary Protected Status and other designated categories have been automatically extended beyond the validity date on the card.
Both current and new versions are acceptable for Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, E-Verify, and Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements. Some older Green Cards do not have an expiration date. These older Green Cards without an expiration date are still valid, but individuals who have Green Cards without an expiration date may want to consider applying for a replacement card bearing an expiration date. Obtaining the replacement card, says the USCIS, will reduce the likelihood of fraud or tampering if the card is ever lost or stolen.
Datatech serves the agriculture industry across America with state of art ag cost accounting, ag payroll and real-time inventory and sales tracking software.