New I-551 card design

On May 11, 2010 the United States Citizenship & Immigration Service announced the new design of the I-551; Permanent Resident Card or “green card.” The card or document serves as identification for millions of United States Lawful Permanent Residents and is immeasurably valuable to those who have traversed the maze of immigration laws to be granted permanent resident status.

The “green card” has not actually been green in color since its original inception when it was a green paper document given to immigrants as evidence of their status. It has been through many variations and incarnations over the years and finally has come full circle and will be green again. The new color is among many changes to the document in an effort to thwart counterfeiting, and will be issued to all new lawful permanent residents beginning in May.