Most people are thrilled when they finally receive their green cards — often after a very long wait. However, for thousands of people who received their green cards this year, that excitement has been tampered by a glitch.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) recently announced a recall of over 8,500 Permanent Resident Cards (the official name of the card) that were sent out between February and April of this year The reason for the recall is that the date on the “Resident Since” section was incorrect.
The cards impacted by the production error were issued to spouses of U.S. citizens who completed Form I-751. By having this incorrect date on their green card, these spouses could have to wait longer than the required three years to submit an application for citizenship.
According to USCIS, the agency has sent notifications to the impacted card holders or their attorneys. They are being asked to return the incorrectly-printed cards. USCIS says that it is issuing corrected cards within about two weeks of receiving the ones back that have the wrong dates on them.
Those people impacted by this error who need to travel abroad or provide evidence of permanent residence status while they’re awaiting their new card are advised to call USCIS for assistance.
Dealing with any part of the federal bureaucracy can be difficult, tedious and time-consuming. When your right to be in this country and travel freely is at stake, it can be particularly stressful. If you have questions or need assistance in dealing with USCIS for yourself or a family member, an experienced Maryland immigration attorney can be an excellent resource.
Source: CBS 8, “USCIS recalls thousands of Permanent Resident cards due to production error,” May 16, 2018
