USCIS Explains New Delay in Issuing Physical Green Cards
On July 21, 2020, the USCIS Ombudsman issued a letter explaining why permanent residents will experience delay in receiving their physical Permanent Resident Cards (green cards). A green card is evidence of permanent residence, not the actual status. The letter is reproduced in full below.
Dear Stakeholder:
In June 2020, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) reduced its capacity to print secure documents, such as Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR) Cards and Employment Authorization Documents, after it ended a contract with an outside company responsible for printing these cards. According to USCIS, it intended to hire federal employees to replace the contractors; however, its financial situation resulted in a hiring freeze that has impacted the printing of these secure cards.
Stakeholders are submitting requests for case assistance to the Office of the Citizenship and Immigration Services Ombudsman (Ombudsman), confirming there are delays in receiving these secure documents. USCIS expects these backlogs will continue for the foreseeable future. Should there be a furlough of USCIS employees on August 3, 2020, card production backlogs will likely increase.
The Ombudsman is assisting individuals whose applications have been approved but whose cards have not yet been produced, by sending weekly spreadsheets to USCIS to verify card requests are in line to be processed. If you are experiencing a delay in receiving your secure document, you may submit a request for case assistance with the Ombudsman at https://www.dhs.gov/topic/cis-ombudsman/forms/7001.
LPRs may obtain proof of their status by requesting a stamp of temporary evidence in a valid passport. Please reach out to USCIS’ Contact Center (800-375-5283) to make an appointment at your local USCIS field office.
