Lawful permanent residents (LPRs) seeking an Alien Documentation, Identification, and Telecommunication (ADIT) stamp, also known as an I-551 stamp, may now be eligible to receive this temporary evidence of their LPR status through a new, convenient mail delivery process. Previously, individuals seeking an ADIT stamp were required to physically visit a USCIS field office to obtain it.
Lawful permanent residents may require temporary evidence of their status in the form of an ADIT stamp if they do not have their Green Card, or if their Form I-90, Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card (Green Card), Form I-751, Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence, or Form N-400, Application for Naturalization, is still pending adjudication and their Green Card and extension notice have expired.
Now, when LPRs call the USCIS Contact Center to request temporary evidence of status, an immigration services officer will verify their identity, their physical mailing address, and whether that address can receive UPS or FedEx express mail. The USCIS officer will then either schedule an in-person appointment for the LPR, if needed, or submit a request to the USCIS field office to issue the ADIT stamp.
LPRs will still need to appear in person at a USCIS field office if they have urgent needs, do not have a usable photo in the USCIS systems, or if their address or identity cannot be confirmed. But if an in-person appointment is not needed, the USCIS field office will review the request for temporary evidence and mail the applicant a Form I-94 with ADIT stamp, DHS seal, and a printed photo of the lawful permanent resident obtained from USCIS systems.
USCIS implemented the new process in order to reduce the burden on applicants, increase availability of USCIS field office resources, and issue temporary evidence of LPR status in a more timely manner.
Should you have any questions or concerns regarding expiration of your Green Card or the applicability of this new process to the circumstances of your lawful permanent residency and evidence of status, please feel free to contact Stephen Antwine, Esq. of Green & Spiegel at (215) 395-8959 or at santwine@gands-us.com.
