A Green Card holder (permanent resident) is someone who 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.”
Do you have to have the correct name for a green card?
A permanent resident card, commonly known as a green card, must reflect the holder’s correct name. A green card is issued to new immigrants as proof of their legal resident status in the U.S. So it is important that this document has the holder’s correct name and other personal information like their date of birth.
Can a green card holder bring their family to the US?
Where is the number on the back of a green card?
Can a green card holder cross the border to Mexico?
Yes, if you have a US Green Card, then you can use it to cross the border to Mexico without having to apply for a Mexican visa, regardless of your nationality. However, you do need a Mexican tourist card, which is different from a visa because you won’t need to go to a Mexican embassy or consulate and make a formal visa application.
What are the rights of a green card holder?
As a permanent resident (Green Card holder), you have the right to: Live permanently in the United States provided you do not commit any actions that would make you removable under immigration law Work in the United States at any legal work of your qualification and choosing.
Can a green card holder change their last name?
Marina is a lawful permanent resident (green card holder) who has recently changed her last name. When she initially applied for her green card (I-485), she did not change her maiden name. However, after a year of marriage, she decided that she wanted to take his last name.
Where does the green card number come from?
Green Card Number Format The first line of the 90 character string on the back of a green card starts with C1 or C2, which indicates whether the green card holder is a long-term permanent resident within the US (C1), or a permanent resident commuter, from Canada or Mexico (C2).
Can a green card holder travel outside the US?
As a green card holder, you can travel and stay outside the United States for a period of six months without losing your permanent resident status.
In a Nutshell
If you’re a lawful permanent resident of the United States applying efor citizenship or filling out other government forms, you may need to enter your green card number. This guide explains what the green card number is, how U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) uses it, how to locate the number on your green card, and how to understand what the different parts of the green card number mean.
What Is the Green Card Number?
Your green card number is a 13-digit number that U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) assigns to your specific green card application. Your green card number is printed on your permanent resident card. The green card number is sometimes called a “case number,” “permanent resident card number,” or an “I-551 receipt number.” Form I-551 is the form number for a green card.
Your green card number is not the same thing as your alien registration number (A-number), which is also printed on your green card. Your green card number is also not the same thing as your USCIS number, which can be found on the front of your card.
Where Is the Green Card Number on Your Card?
If you have the current version of the green card, you’ll find your green card number printed on the card’s backside at the bottom. Your green card number is in the first line of a long string of 90 characters, made of letters, numbers, and less-than symbols (<<). Your green card number begins with three letters and ends with 10 numbers. For example:
Sample Green Card – Back
Sample Green Card – Front
If you have an older version of the green card, your number may be at the bottom of the front of your card. For example:
Sample Green Card – Old Version
On much older green card versions, there is no green card number on the card. If your card has no green card number, it means that U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) was not using the green card number at the time they issued your card.
Understanding the Green Card Number Format
Finally, your green card number comes next. The first three letters of your green card number represent the service center that processed your card. Each USCIS service center has a three-letter code:
For example, if your green card number reads EAC 20 005 40421, you know that your green card was processed in the Eastern Adjudication Center (EAC), which is now the Vermont Service Center.
The next part of the green card number represents what’s called the “computer workday.” A computer workday is a three-digit number based on the regular 365-day calendar, which excludes weekends and holidays. So, in our sample green card number, EAC 20 005 40421, the government agency received the green card application on the fifth workday of fiscal year 2020.
The final part of the green card number is the 5-digit case number. In our example, the green card holder’s case number is 40421. Your case number is unique to you and represents the number USCIS assigned to the green card application that they ultimately approved.