Lawful permanent residents (“LPRs”) show evidence of their immigration status by presenting an unexpired Form I-551 Permanent Resident Card (green card). However, in certain circumstances, when a green card is expired or not delivered, an LPR may require other temporary evidence of their permanent residence for purposes of employment or international travel.  With increasingly long delays in USCIS adjudication of immigration applications, an LPR may be required to contact USCIS for additional evidence of their status.  

United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will now offer a procedure for LPRs to apply for temporary evidence of status in the form of an “ADIT” stamp or “I-551” stamp. This procedure is for LPRs who need other evidence of status, such as when they have not received their green cards or when an automatic extension based on a pending application expires before USCIS processes a green card renewal application or a naturalization application. 

For LPRs in these situations requiring temporary evidence of their permanent resident status, USCIS recommends that they take the following steps:   

1. Call the USCIS Contact Center at 800-375-5283. 
2. Provide their case number (receipt number) and verify their identity and home address with the USCIS representative on the call. 
3. The representative will escalate the case to a USCIS officer who can determine if an in-person InfoPass appointment (i.e. appointment at a local USCIS office) is needed or if USCIS can provide temporary evidence of status through the mail. 

Generally speaking, InfoPass appointments will be arranged for LPRs with an urgent need to show temporary evidence of status. Appointments are also needed for LPRs who do not have a usable photo in the USCIS system (such as from a prior biometrics appointment at an Application Support Center), or whose identity or address cannot be confirmed. At the InfoPass session at a local USCIS Field Office, a USCIS officer will stamp the LPR’s passport with the temporary evidence of status. 

LPRs receiving temporary evidence of status by mail should expect a UPS or FedEx express mail package from USCIS containing a Form I-94 with an “ADIT” stamp, DHS seal, and a printed photo of the LPR. In both situations, the temporary evidence of status may be valid for up to one year.  

T&S Takeaway 

In practice, calling the USCIS Contact Center and navigating USCIS’s automated phone tree may be challenging for LPRs seeking temporary evidence of status. 

In situations where a live USCIS representative is hard to reach, we recommend that LPRs use the “Ask Emma” feature, available through the “Need Help? Chat with Emma” link in the lower right corner of most pages on uscis.gov.  

The attorneys of Tafapolsky & Smith LLP will continue to monitor and analyze all developments affecting immigration benefits and will provide updates on significant developments.