Get U.S. PERMANENT RESIDENCE GENERAL INFORMATION - Ohr Wisc

What Is a Green Card? Holders of a green card, also known as permanent resident card, are permanent residents of the United States. They are neither naturalized U.S. citizens nor U.S. citizens by birth.

USCIS began issuing this version of Form I-551 in May 2010. This redesign changed the card color to green. The card contains the bearer's photo, name, USCIS number/A-Number, date of birth, laser-engraved fingerprint, and card expiration date.

The card's unwieldy official name also invited abbreviation. Soon immigrants, their attorneys, and even INS employees began referring to the card by its color. In short order, the phrase “Green Card” came to represent the card itself and the LPR status it communicated.

In Section 2, an LPR may choose to present a List A document (such as Form I-551, Permanent Resident Card, commonly referred to as a Green Card) or a List B and C document combination (such as a state-issued driver's license and unrestricted Social Security card).

While green card holders can live and work in the United States, and enjoy most of the same benefits as a U.S. citizen, permanent residents are not U.S. citizens and because of this do not have the full rights of a citizen. Limitations include: Green card holders do not have the right to vote.

Although some Permanent Resident Cards, commonly known as Green Cards, contain no expiration date, most are valid for 10 years. If you have been granted conditional permanent resident status, the card is valid for 2 years. It is important to keep your card up-to-date.

Online: Use the case status online tool to check for updates about your immigration case. You will need your 13-character receipt number from your application or petition. By phone: If you are calling from the U.S., contact the USCIS National Customer Service Center at 1-800-375-5283 or TTY 1-800-767-1833.

A Green Card holder is a permanent resident that has been granted authorization to live and work in the United States on a permanent basis. As proof of that status, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) grants a person a permanent resident card, commonly called a "Green Card."