Newsletter for the Week of Feb 1, 2023
USCIS Releases New Strategic Plan Highlighting Long-Term Goals
USCIS released its 2023-2024 Fiscal Year Strategic Plan. This plan is a roadmap for the agency to strengthen its capabilities and help people access services. The first goal of the Strategic Plan is to Strengthen the US Immigration System by ensuring that all immigration practices support a strong immigration system with integrity. The second goal is to invest in the USCIS workforce. This includes hiring, training, and retaining a diverse and flexible workforce to enact the country’s immigration goals. The third goal is to promote effective and efficient management and stewardship by enhancing the organizational capabilities of the agency.
USCIS Green Card Validity Extended.
USCIS is extending the validity of Permanent Resident Cards (Green Cards) for petitions who properly file form I-751 for 48 months past the card’s expiration date. This change is effective as of January 25, 2023. This change comes in response to an increase in processing times due to COVID-19. The receipt notice on form I-751 has been changed to reflect this new policy. USCIS will issue new receipt notices to eligible conditional permanent residents who previously received notices with an extension shorter than 48 months whose cases are still pending. These receipt notices can be presented with an expired Green Card as evidence of continued status, while the case remains pending with USCIS. With the updated receipt notice and an expired Green Card, an individual remains authorized to work and travel.
USCIS Redesigns Green Card and Employment Authorization Document
USCIS announced that Permanent Resident Cards (Green Cards) and Employment Authorization Documents will be getting a new look! They began issuing these redesigned cards on January 30, 2023. This design change is the result of new technology to safeguard national security. The artwork will be more detailed, there will be tactile printing, and highly secure holographic images on the front and back of the cards, among other changes.
