What is an Alien Registration Card?
| Immigration Articles >>
Green Cards >> What is an Alien Registration Card? |
 |
 Legal Definition of Alien Registration Card:
United States permanent residents have an identification card known as the
“Alien Registration Card”. Other names that the
Alien Registration Card is known as are the immigrant
visa, permanent visa, permanent resident card, permanent resident visa, form
I-551 or form I-551. While permanent
residents are not United States citizens, they are granted permission to reside
and work in the United States on a permanent basis. Permanent residents in the
United States are legally in the country, but they are still considered aliens.
Unlike United States citizens who are not required to carry an identification to
prove their citizenship, permanent residents must carry their
Alien Registration Card with them at
all times. The government
agency responsible for issuing Alien Registration Cards
is the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) which was formerly the
Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS).
It was not until 1977 when the INS introduced an alien registration receipt card
which could not be easily counterfeited. The new card was machine-readable. Some
of the colors that it was issued in included pink and pink with blue.
Nonetheless, it was still referred to as the Alien Registration Card. The current
Alien Registration Card
or permanent residency card is predominantly white with black letters. The
Alien Registration Card includes a person’s name and photograph as well as other information. It is
the size of a credit card and is plastic. When looking at the back of the
current permanent residency card, the green is more prominent. Throughout the
years, it continues to be updated with new anti-counterfeit features. Being a permanent resident in the United States
entitles individuals to certain rights and those rights came into existence when
the permanent residency card was green. However, there are instances when the
Alien Registration Card can be revoked. These instances include an individual being outside
the United States for an extensive period of time, not maintaining permanent
residence in the United States or breaking certain laws.
Related Articles:
|
IMMIGRATION CART | 
MY ACCOUNT
Back to Immigration Articles