Information regarding green cards and employment authorization documents
On April 19, 2017, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced the redesign of the Permanent Resident Card (also known as a Green Card) and the Employment Authorization Document (EAD) as part of the Next Generation Secure Identification Project. Read the USCIS News Release for full details on the redesign. USCIS began issuing the new cards on May 1, 2017.
How To Tell If Your Card Is Valid
Some Green Cards and EADs issued after May 1, 2017, may still display the existing design format, as USCIS will continue using existing card stock until current supplies are depleted. Both the existing and the new Green Cards and EADs will remain valid until the expiration date shown on the card.
Both new and existing versions of the Green Card and EADs are acceptable for Form I-9 , Employment Eligibility Verification and E-Verify . Some older Green Cards do not have an expiration date but also remain valid.
Extension Information
Starting January 17, 2017, USCIS is automatically extending certain expiring EADs for up to 180 days for “Retention of EB-1, EB-2, and EB-3 Immigrant Workers and Program Improvements Affecting High-Skilled Nonimmigrant Workers.”
The new amendments provide for automatic extensions of the validity periods of certain EADs (Form I-766) for up to 180 days for individuals who:
- Timely filed to renew an EAD;
- Are applying to renew an EAD in the same category as the previous EAD (A12 and C19 are considered the same category for this extension); and
- Are in a category that is eligible for the extension.
At this time, it is recommended that all automatic EAD extensions be handled through the Office for International Students and Scholars (OISS) to ensure that the employee’s file and I-9 are updated appropriately. More information on automatic EAD extensions can be found on the USCIS website .
Contact MSU HR at 517-353-4434 or SolutionsCenter@hr.msu.edu with questions.
