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108-480: A green card , known officially as a permanent resident card , is an identity document which shows that a person has permanent residency in the United States. Green card holders are formally known as lawful permanent residents ( LPRs ). As of 2023, there are an estimated 12.7 million green card holders, of whom 9 million are eligible to become United States citizens . Approximately 18,700 of them serve in

216-545: A qualification (without proving identity). For example, all taxicab drivers in the UK carry ID cards. Managers, supervisors, and operatives in construction in the UK can get a photographic ID card, the CSCS (Construction Skills Certification Scheme) card, indicating training and skills including safety training. The card is not an identity card or a legal requirement, but enables holders to prove competence without having to provide all

324-431: A re-entry permit before leaving), or fail to file an income tax return on their worldwide income. Permanent resident status can also be lost if it is found that the application or grounds for obtaining permanent residence was fraudulent. The failure to renew the permanent resident card does not result in the loss of status, except in the case of conditional permanent residents as noted above. Nevertheless, failure to renew

432-548: A KTP (Kartu Tanda Penduduk) identity card. The card will identify whether the holder is an Indonesian citizen or foreign national . In 2011, the Indonesian government started a two-year ID issuance campaign that utilizes smartcard technology and biometric duplication of fingerprint and iris recognition . This card, called the Electronic KTP (e-KTP), will replace the conventional ID card beginning in 2013. By 2013, it

540-456: A U.S. citizen petitioner. Regardless of whether the family member being sponsored is located in the United States (and therefore likely to be applying for adjustment of status) or outside the United States (in which case the immigrant visa is the likely option), the process begins with the filing of an I-130 Petition for Alien Relative. The form and instructions can be found on the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services website. Required later in

648-791: A central Biometric Database, which is used by the Bangladesh Election Commission to oversee the electoral procedure in Bangladesh. All Bangladeshis are issued with an NID Card which can be used to obtain a passport, Driving Licence, credit card, and to register land ownership. The Bhutanese national identity card (called the Buthanese Citizenship card) is an electronic ID card, compulsory for all Bhutanese nationals and costs 100 Bhutanese ngultrum. The People's Republic of China requires each of its citizens aged 16 and over to carry an identity card. The card

756-528: A criminal conviction , especially if it involved a particularly serious crime or an aggravated felony "for which the term of imprisonment was completed within the previous 15 years". The Immigration and Naturalization Service was formed as part of the Department of Labor in 1933, and in 1940 was moved under the Department of Justice along with the Nationality Act of 1940 . During the 1940s

864-581: A daily basis. More than 4.5 million people are expected to register and obtain ID cards of citizenship or residence in Liberia. The project has already started where NIR (National Identification Registry) is issuing Citizen National ID Cards. The centralized National Biometric Identification System (NBIS) will be integrated with other government ministries. Resident ID Cards and ECOWAS ID Cards will also be issued. Mauritius requires all citizens who have reached

972-429: A difficult-to-forge embedded integrated circuit standardized in 1988 by ISO/IEC 7816 . New technologies allow identity cards to contain biometric information, such as a photograph , face ; hand , or iris measurements; or fingerprints . Many countries issue electronic identity cards . Law enforcement officials claim that identity cards make surveillance and the search for criminals easier and therefore support

1080-442: A driving licence, and young people may need to use specially issued "proof of age cards" when purchasing alcohol. Arguments for identity documents as such: Arguments for national identity documents: Arguments against identity documents as such: Arguments against national identity documents: Arguments against overuse or abuse of identity documents: According to Privacy International , as of 1996 , possession of identity cards

1188-486: A green card in eight of the last 15 years and choose to relinquish it will be subject to the expatriation tax , which taxes unrealized gains above $ 600,000, anywhere in the world. However this will only apply to those people who have a federal tax liability greater than $ 139,000 a year or have a worth of more than $ 2 million or have failed to certify to the IRS that they have been in compliance with U.S. federal tax obligations for

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1296-411: A green card under a sole exception. For an undocumented immigrant to be granted permanent residency they must abide by the registry date and eligibility criteria. The registry provision date was first developed in 1929 with the intention to aid in the growing number of undocumented immigrants. Essentially, only immigrants who entered the United States before a certain date (registry date) qualify to receive

1404-454: A green card. Other parameters include continued stay since entering the country and good moral character. After being created in 1929, congress advanced the registry date a total of four times. First set to only grant residency to individuals who entered the country before or on June 3, 1921, the date was then moved to July 1, 1924, further to July 1, 1940, once more to June 30, 1948 and finally January 1, 1972. The last advancement date comprised

1512-469: A member of the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA), acting on behalf of the U.S. Attorney General , may grant permanent residency in the course of removal proceedings . Any authorized federal judge may do the same by signing and issuing an injunction . Immigrant workers who would like to obtain a green card can apply using form I-140. An LPR could become "removable" from the United States after suffering

1620-541: A national identity card in 2005, but its adoption back then was limited and not widespread. The country is now in the process of introducing a new biometric ID card complete with a SmartCard and other security features. The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) is the federal government agency responsible for the issuance of these new cards, as well as the management of the new National Identity Database. The Federal Government of Nigeria announced in April 2013 that after

1728-670: A passport or occasionally a national identity card from their home country available at any time if they do not have a residence permit in the country. A version of the passport considered to be the earliest identity document inscribed into law was introduced by King Henry V of England with the Safe Conducts Act 1414 . For the next 500 years up to the onset of the First World War , most people did not have or need an identity document. Photographic identification appeared in 1876 but it did not become widely used until

1836-529: A smart card ID was launched to replace the ID book. The cards were launched on July 18, 2013, when a number of dignitaries received the first cards at a ceremony in Pretoria. The government plans to have the ID books phased out over a six to eight-year period. The South African government is looking into possibly using this smart card not just as an identification card but also for licences, National Health Insurance , and social grants. Every citizen of Tunisia

1944-452: A specific name, and an alphanumeric sequence consisting of a letter followed by two or three digits. Forms related to immigration are designated with an I (for example, I-551, Permanent Resident Card ) and forms related to naturalization are designated by an N (for example, N-400 , Application for Naturalization). Ken Cuccinelli served from July 8 to December 31, 2019, as de facto Acting Director. His tenure as Acting Director

2052-488: A three-step process to get permanent residency: An applicant in the United States can obtain two permits while the case is pending after a certain stage is passed in green card processing (filing of I-485). U.S. citizens may sponsor for permanent residence in the United States the following relatives: U.S. permanent residents may sponsor for permanent residence in the United States the following relatives: The Department of State's "Visa Bulletin", issued every month, gives

2160-732: A visa by some other means. Green-card holders may petition for permanent residency for their spouse and children. U.S. green-card holders have experienced separation from their families, sometimes for years. A mechanism to unite families of green-card holders was created by the LIFE Act by the introduction of a " V visa ", signed into law by President Clinton . The law expired on December 31, 2000, and V visas are no longer available. Several bills have been introduced in Congress to reinstate V visas, but so far none have been successful. The most common challenges that USCIS faces in providing services in

2268-460: Is estimated that approximately 172 million Indonesian nationals will have an e-KTP issued to them. Every citizen of Iran has an identification document called Shenasnameh ( Iranian identity booklet ) in Persian (شناسنامه). This is a booklet based on the citizen's birth certificate which features their Shenasnameh National ID number, given name , surname , their birth date, their birthplace, and

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2376-455: Is expected to apply for an ID card by the age of 18; however, with the approval of a parent(s), a Tunisian citizen may apply for, and receive, an ID card prior to their eighteenth birthday upon parental request. In 2016, The government has introduced a new bill to the parliament to issue new biometric ID documents. The bill has created controversy amid civil society organizations. Zimbabweans are required to apply for National Registration at

2484-521: Is fraudulent is that it does not end with ".gov". One particularly common fraud email asks potential victims to wire money via Western Union to an individual (the name varies) at the following address in the United Kingdom: 24 Grosvenor Square, London. These emails come from a variety of email addresses designed to impersonate the U.S. State Department. The USCIS blog has published information on this email scam and how to report fraudulent emails to

2592-647: Is funded almost entirely by user fees, most of it via the Immigration Examinations Fee Account (IEFA). USCIS is authorized to collect fees for its immigration case adjudication and naturalization services by the Immigration and Nationality Act . In fiscal year 2020, USCIS had a budget of US$ 4.85 billion; 97.3% of it was funded by fees and 2.7% by congressional appropriations . USCIS consists of approximately 19,000 federal employees and contractors working at 223 offices around

2700-553: Is known as a "green card" because of its historical greenish color. It was formerly called a "certificate of alien registration" or an "alien registration receipt card". Absent exceptional circumstances , immigrants who are 18 years of age or older could spend up to 30 days in jail for not carrying their green cards. Green card applications are decided by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), but in some cases an immigration judge or

2808-506: Is no mandatory identity card in India, the Aadhaar card, a multi-purpose national identity card, carrying 16 personal details and a unique identification number, has been available to all citizens since 2009. The card contains a photograph, full name, date of birth, and a unique, randomly generated 12-digit National Identification Number . However, the card itself is rarely required as proof,

2916-409: Is not considered a national identity card by the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection (DEASP), but many say it is in fact becoming that, and without public debate or even a legislative foundation. There is debate in these countries about whether such cards and their centralised databases constitute an infringement of privacy and civil liberties . Most criticism is directed towards

3024-477: Is the case of a U.S. citizen legally sponsoring a spouse in which the marriage at the time of the adjustment of status (I-485) is more than two years old. In this case, the conditional status is waived and a 10-year "permanent resident card" is issued after the USCIS approves the case. A permanent resident under the conditional clause may receive an I-551 stamp as well as a permanent resident card. The expiration date of

3132-439: Is the national identity card of Cape Verde . It is compulsory for all Egyptian citizens age 16 or older to possess an ID card ( Arabic : بطاقة تحقيق شخصية Biṭāqat taḥqīq shakhṣiyya , literally, "Personal Verification Card"). In daily colloquial speech , it is generally simply called "el-biṭāqa" ("the card"). It is used for: Egyptian ID cards consist of 14 digits, the national identity number, and expire after 7 years from

3240-668: Is the only acceptable legal document to obtain employment, a residence permit, driving licence or passport, and to open bank accounts or apply for entry to tertiary education and technical colleges. The Hong Kong Identity Card (or HKID ) is an official identity document issued by the Immigration Department of Hong Kong to all people who hold the right of abode, right to land or other forms of limited stay longer than 180 days in Hong Kong. According to Basic Law of Hong Kong , all permanent residents are eligible to obtain

3348-447: Is then free from the conditional requirement once the application is approved. The applicant's new permanent resident card arrives via mail to their house several weeks to several months later and replaces the old two-year conditional residence card. The new card must be renewed after 10 years, but permanent resident status is now granted for an indefinite term if residence conditions are satisfied at all times. The USCIS may request to renew

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3456-436: Is to ensure that the marriage was in good faith and not a fraudulent marriage of convenience with a sole intention of obtaining a green card. A follow-up interview with an immigration officer is sometimes required but may be waived if the submitted evidence is sufficient. Both the spouses must usually attend the interview. The applicant receives an I-551 stamp in their foreign passport upon approval of their case. The applicant

3564-480: Is used to connect a person to information about the person, often in a database . The connection between the identity document and database is based on personal information present on the document, such as the bearer's full name , birth date , address , an identification number, card number, gender, citizenship and more. A unique national identification number is the most secure way, but some countries lack such numbers or do not show them on identity documents. In

3672-540: Is yet to be determined. South African citizens aged 15 years and 6 months or older are eligible for an ID card. The South African identity document is not valid as a travel document or valid for use outside South Africa. Although carrying the document is not required in daily life, it is necessary to show the document or a certified copy as proof of identity when: The South African identity document used to also contain driving and firearms licences ; however, these documents are now issued separately in card format. In mid 2013

3780-591: The Bahamas , Canada , Nauru , New Zealand , Samoa , Tuvalu and the United Kingdom . Other identity documents such as passports or driver's licenses are then used as identity documents when needed. However, governments of the Bahamas and Samoa are planning to introduce new national identity cards in the near future Some countries, like Denmark, have more simple official identity cards, which do not match

3888-561: The Hong Kong Permanent Identity Card which states that the holder has the right of abode in Hong Kong . All persons aged 16 and above must carry a valid legal government identification document in public. All persons aged 16 and above must be able to produce valid legal government identification documents when requested by legal authorities; otherwise, they may be held in detention to investigate his or her identity and legal right to be in Hong Kong. While there

3996-490: The Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act (IIRIRA). An LPR can file an application for naturalization after five years of continuous residency in the United States. This period may be shortened to three years if married to a U.S. citizen or one year during service with the U.S. armed forces. An LPR may submit their applications for naturalization as early as 90 days before meeting

4104-474: The Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 (IRCA), as well as further reform enacted in the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 (IIRIRA), eligible persons who properly apply for permanent residency based on either a recent marriage to a U.S. citizen or as an investor are granted such privilege only on a conditional basis , for two years. An exception to this rule

4212-531: The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program , Medicaid , and public housing assistance for more than a total of twelve months may be classified as a "public charge" ineligible for permanent residency. Immigration official may investigate the health, income, wealth, education, and family of applicants for permanent residency to predict whether they will become a public charge in the future. The term "public charge" appears in

4320-430: The U.S. Armed Forces . Green card holders are statutorily entitled to apply for U.S. citizenship after showing by a preponderance of the evidence that they, among other things, have continuously resided in the United States for one to five years and are persons of good moral character . Those who are younger than 18 years old automatically derive U.S. citizenship if they have at least one U.S. citizen parent. The card

4428-523: The URL ends in .gov . Other fraud perpetrators will e-mail potential victims posing as State Department or other government officials with requests to wire or transfer money online as part of a "processing fee". These fraudulent e-mails are designed to steal money from unsuspecting victims. The senders often use illegitimate e-mail addresses and logos designed to make them look more like official government correspondence. One easy way to tell that an email address

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4536-405: The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services and other federal agencies. LPRs can secure many types of jobs just like U.S. citizens can. LPRs can register property under their names and live anywhere within the United States. They can similarly operate any type of business in the United States. LPRs are also subject to similar obligations as U.S. citizens. For example, male LPRs between

4644-493: The machine-readable travel document TD1 format: Identity document An identity document (abbreviated as ID ) is a document proving a person's identity. If the identity document is a plastic card it is called an identity card (abbreviated as IC or ID card ). When the identity document incorporates a photographic portrait , it is called a photo ID . In some countries, identity documents may be compulsory or non-compulsory to have. The identity document

4752-602: The Diversity Visa (DV) program, also known as the Green Card Lottery to people who were born in countries with low rates of immigration to the United States (fewer than 50,000 immigrants in the past five years). Applicants can only qualify by country of chargeability , not by citizenship. Anyone who is selected under this lottery will be given the opportunity to apply for permanent residence. They can also file for their spouse and any unmarried children under

4860-502: The Immigration Reform and Control Act (IRCA) along with other regularization provisions which included penalizing institutions that knowingly employed undocumented non-citizens. This was done through a set of congressional amendments that culminated in 1958 Act, where the requirement for non-citizens to be eligible only if they are not subject to deportation was removed. Since then the registry date has not been advanced despite

4968-566: The Immigration and Nationality Act, but is not defined by the law. Refugees, asylum seekers, pregnant women, children, and family members of those serving in the Armed Forces are excluded from the restrictions. The Trump administration estimated that 58% of households headed by non-citizens use a public welfare program and half use Medicaid. The Migration Policy Institute estimated that half of all Green Card applicants would be excluded by

5076-513: The U.S. International offices are in Ankara , Beijing , Guangzhou , Havana , San Salvador , Guatemala City , Tegucigalpa , New Delhi , Nairobi , and Mexico City . USCIS's mission statement was changed on February 9, 2022. USCIS Director Jaddou announced the new mission statement. In 2021, USCIS leadership empowered employees to submit words that they felt best illustrated the agency's work. The new mission statement reflects this feedback from

5184-531: The US, but must wait for their priority date to become current. The foreign spouse of a green-card holder must wait for approval of an "immigrant visa" from the State Department before entering the United States. Due to numerical limitation on the number of these visas, the wait time for approval may be months or years. In the interim, the spouse cannot be legally present in the United States, unless they secure

5292-608: The USCIS Contact Center with information in English and Spanish, Application Support Centers (ASCs), the Internet , and other channels. Enforcement of immigration laws remains under Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). USCIS focuses on two key points on the immigrant's path to civic integration: when they first become permanent residents and when they are ready to begin

5400-440: The USCIS on its own merits. Conditional permanent residents have all of the equal "rights, privileges, responsibilities and duties which apply to all other lawful permanent residents." The only difference is the requirement to satisfy the conditions (such as showing marriage status or satisfying entrepreneur requirements) before the two-year period ends. A green-card holder may abandon permanent residence by filing form I-407, with

5508-505: The United States, but the number of family members of LPRs who can immigrate is limited by an annual cap, and there is a years-long backlog. On August 12, 2019, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) formally announced a new rule restricting poorer immigrants from attaining LPR status. Under the rule, which was slated to take effect on October 15, 2019, legal immigrants who have received public benefits such as Supplemental Security Income , Temporary Assistance for Needy Families ,

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5616-443: The United States. Immigrants need visas to get off of these waiting lists, and Congress would need to change immigration law in order to accommodate them with legal status. The number of green cards that can be granted to family-based applicants depends on what preference category they fall under. An unlimited number of immediate relatives can receive green cards because there is no quota for that category. Family members who fall under

5724-572: The United States. The United Kingdom's scheme was scrapped in January 2011 and the database was destroyed. In the United States, the Federal government issues optional non-obligatory identity cards known as " Passport Cards " (which include important information such as the nationality). On the other hand, states issue optional identity cards for people who do not hold a driver's license as an alternate means of identification. These cards are issued by

5832-512: The absence of an explicit identity document, other documents such as driver's license may be accepted in many countries for identity verification . Some countries do not accept driver's licenses for identification, often because in those countries they do not expire as documents and can be old or easily forged. Most countries accept passports as a form of identification. Some countries require all people to have an identity document available at all times. Many countries require all foreigners to have

5940-772: The age of 16. Zimbabwean citizens are issued with a plastic card which contains a photograph and their particulars onto it. Before the introduction of the plastic card, the Zimbabwean ID card used to be printed on anodised aluminium. Along with Driving Licences, the National Registration Card (including the old metal type) is universally accepted as proof of identity in Zimbabwe. Zimbabweans are required by law to carry identification on them at all times and visitors to Zimbabwe are expected to carry their passport with them at all times. Afghan citizens over

6048-561: The age of 18 are required to carry a national ID document called Tazkira . Bahraini citizens must have both an ID card, called a "smart card", which is recognized as an official document and can be used within the Gulf Cooperation Council , and a passport, which is recognized worldwide. Biometric identification has existed in Bangladesh since 2008. All Bangladeshis who are 18 years of age and older are included in

6156-508: The age of 18 to apply for a National Identity Card. The National Identity Card is one of the few accepted forms of identification, along with passports. A National Identity Card is needed to apply for a passport for all adults, and all minors must take with them the National Identity Card of a parent(s) when applying for a passport. Bilhete de identidade (BI) is the national ID card of Mozambique . Nigeria first introduced

6264-407: The age of 21. If permanent residence is granted, the winner (and their family, if applicable) receives an immigrant visa in their passport(s) that has to be "activated" within six months of issuance at any port of entry to the United States. If already in the U.S. adjustment of status may be pursued. The new immigrant receives a stamp on the visa as proof of lawful admittance to the United States, and

6372-548: The ages of 18 and 25 are subject to registering in the Selective Service System . Like U.S. citizens, LPRs must pay taxes on their worldwide income (this includes filing annual U.S. income tax returns). LPRs are not permitted to vote in federal elections and they cannot be elected to federal office. They may vote in certain local elections , and hold local and state offices (subject to state/city law and Constitutionality ). As part of immigration reform under

6480-498: The alien has to prove that they have continuously resided since before the stipulated "registry date". The concept of "registry" was first added to the INA in 1929, with the registry date set to June 3, 1921. Since then, the registry date has been adjusted several times, being set to July 1, 1924; June 28, 1940; and June 30, 1948. The most recent adjustment to the registry date came with the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 , when it

6588-502: The applicant may apply on their behalf without a sponsor). The three-step process outlined above is described here in more detail for employment-based immigration applications. After the process is complete, the alien is expected to take the certified job offered by the employer to substantiate their immigrant status, since the application ultimately rests on the alien's employment with that company in that particular position. Each year, around 55,000 immigrant visas are made available through

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6696-478: The applicant, further delaying the process. Currently the largest cause of long wait times is not processing time, but rather immigrant visa quotas set by Congress. Because of numerical quotas in many immigration categories, long wait times often prevent immigrants from receiving immigrant visas in a short time frame. The Augusta Chronicle in 2006 stated that an estimated two million people are on waiting lists in anticipation to become legal and permanent residents of

6804-476: The applicant, petitioner, or authorized representative can contact the USCIS Contact Center. If the Contact Center cannot assist the inquirer directly, the issue will be forwarded to the relevant USCIS center or office for review. Some applicants and petitioners, primarily those who are outside of the United States, may also schedule appointments on USCIS's website Unlike most other federal agencies, USCIS

6912-405: The authorities. The U.S. government has issued warnings about this type of fraud or similar business practices. The "registry" is a provision of the INA which allows an alien who has previously entered the United States illegally to obtain legal permanent residence simply on the basis of having de facto resided in the country over a very long time. To avail themself of the benefit of this provision,

7020-543: The card can result in loss of work eligibility and the ability to travel. A person who loses permanent residence status is immediately removable from the United States and must leave the country as soon as possible or face deportation and removal. In some cases the person may be banned from entering the country for three or seven years, or even permanently . Due to the Heart Act foreign workers who have owned

7128-420: The card earlier because of security enhancements of the card or as a part of a revalidation campaign to exclude counterfeit green cards from circulation. The two-year conditional residence period counts toward satisfying a residency requirement for U.S. naturalization , and other purposes. Application for the removal of conditions must be adjudicated before a separate naturalization application can be reviewed by

7236-431: The chance of winning the lottery, when in fact, they may delay or not submit the application. Likewise, some claim to provide to winners free airline tickets or other benefits, such as submissions in future years or cash funds. There is no way to guarantee their claims, and there are numerous nefarious reasons for them not to fulfill their promises. Applicants are advised to use only official U.S. government websites, in which

7344-444: The conditional period is two years from the approval date. The immigrant visa category is CR (conditional resident). When this two-year conditional period is over, the permanent residence automatically expires and the applicant is subject to deportation and removal unless, up to 90 days before the conditional residence expires, the applicant files form I-751 Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence (if conditional permanent residence

7452-427: The date of issue. Some feel that Egyptian ID cards are problematic, due to the general poor quality of card holders' photographs and the compulsory requirements for ID card holders to identify their religion and for married women to include their husband's name on their cards. All Gambian citizens over 18 years of age are required to hold a Gambian National Identity Card. In July 2009, a new biometric identity card

7560-605: The duties of the former INS, namely processing and adjudicating various immigration matters, including applications for work visas, asylum, and citizenship. Additionally, the agency is officially tasked with safeguarding national security, maintaining immigration case backlogs, and improving efficiency. Ur Jaddou has been the director of USCIS since August 3, 2021. USCIS processes immigrant visa petitions, naturalization applications, asylum applications, applications for adjustment of status (green cards), and refugee applications. It also makes adjudicative decisions performed at

7668-465: The early 20th century when photographs became part of passports and other ID documents, all of which came to be referred to as " photo IDs " in the late 20th century. Both Australia and Great Britain, for example, introduced the requirement for a photographic passport in 1915 after the so-called Lody spy scandal . The shape and size of identity cards were standardized in 1985 by ISO/IEC 7810 . Some modern identity documents are smart cards that include

7776-456: The following: Applications for permanent resident cards (green cards) were decided by the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) until 2003 when the INS was abolished and replaced by the current Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The whole process may take several years, depending on the type of immigrant category and the country of chargeability . An immigrant usually has to go through

7884-711: The form of the Ghana Card arose in the country. Full implementation of the Ghana Cards begun from 2006. According to the National Identification Authority , over 15 million Ghanaians have been registered for the Ghana card by September 2020. Liberia has begun the issuance process of its national biometric identification card, which citizens and foreign residents will use to open bank accounts and participate in other government services on

7992-529: The formal naturalization process. A lawful permanent resident is eligible to become a U.S. citizen after holding the Permanent Resident Card for at least five continuous years, with no trips out of the country of 180 days or more. If the lawful permanent resident marries a U.S. citizen, eligibility for U.S. citizenship is shortened to three years so long as the resident has been living with their spouse continuously for at least three years and

8100-475: The green card process are: (1) the length of the application and approval process, and (2) the quotas of green cards granted. USCIS tries to shorten the time qualified applicants wait to receive permanent residence. Under the current system, immediate family members (spouse, child, and dependent mother and father), have priority status for green cards and generally wait 6 months to a year to have their green card application approved. For non-immediate family members,

8208-414: The green card, at a U.S. Embassy. Under certain conditions, permanent residence status can be lost involuntarily. This includes committing a criminal act that makes a person removable from the United States (an aggravated felony ). A person might also be found to have abandoned their status if they move to another country to live there permanently, stay outside the US for more than one year (without getting

8316-425: The individual is now authorized to live and work permanently in the United States. Finally, the actual "green card" typically arrives by mail within a few months. There is a growing number of fraudulent green card lottery scams , in which false agents take money from applicants by promising to submit application forms for them. Most agents are not working for the distribution service. Some claim that they can increase

8424-713: The local Vital Records branches of the Iranian Ministry of Interior . In order to apply for an NID card, the applicant must be at least 15 years old and have a photograph attached to their Birth Certificate , which is undertaken by the Vital Records branch. Since June 21, 2008, NID cards have been compulsory for many things in Iran and Iranian missions abroad (e.g., obtaining a passport, driver's license, any banking procedure, etc.). United States Citizenship and Immigration Services USCIS performs many of

8532-480: The names, birth dates and National ID numbers of their legal ascendants. In other pages of the Shenasnameh, their marriage status, names of spouse(s), names of children, date of every vote cast and eventually their death would be recorded. Every Iranian permanent resident above the age of 15 must hold a valid National Identity Card ( Persian :کارت ملی) or at least obtain their unique National Number from any of

8640-474: The next general election in 2015, all subsequent elections will require that voters will only be eligible to stand for office or vote provided the citizen possesses a NIMC-issued identity card. The Central Bank of Nigeria is also looking into instructing banks to request for a National Identity Number (NIN) for any citizen maintaining an account with any of the banks operating in Nigeria. The proposed kick off date

8748-495: The number of immigrants increasing by 10 million and a total of 385 individuals have been granted a green card since the last registry update in 1986. Currently the provision date only excludes non-citizens that are inadmissible to the United States on criminal or national-security grounds. The updated and current eligibility requirements for registry are as follows: Green-card holders married to non-U.S. citizens are able to legally bring their spouses and minor children to join them in

8856-463: The number or a copy of the card being sufficient. The card has a SCOSTA QR code embedded on the card, through which all the details on the card are accessible. In addition to Aadhaar, PAN cards, ration cards , voter cards and driving licences are also used. These may be issued by either the government of India or the government of any state and are valid throughout the nation. The Indian passport may also be used. Residents over 17 are required to hold

8964-757: The oath of allegiance to the naturalization of the United States of America, which includes a commitment to "support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States". Exceptions to the inadmissibility rule include circumstances where membership is: "Involuntary; Solely when under 16 years of age; By operation of law; or For purposes of obtaining employment, food rations, or other essentials of living and where necessary for such purposes." The ban would affect current members of Chinese Communist Party and Communist Youth League of China , for example. Lawful permanent residents, also known as green card holders, have certain rights and responsibilities as highlighted by

9072-427: The other various preference categories have fixed quotas; however, the number of visas issued from each category may vary because unused visas from one category may roll over into another category. Many immigrants opt for this route, which typically requires an employer to "sponsor" (i.e., to petition before USCIS) the immigrant (known as the alien beneficiary ) through a presumed future job (in some special categories,

9180-416: The past five years. If the green card is not relinquished, then the holder is subject to double taxation when living or working outside of the United States, whether or not within their home nation, although double taxation may be mitigated by foreign tax credits . While most of the information on the card is self-evident, the computer- and human-readable signature at the bottom is not. The format follows

9288-474: The pertinent documents. Those working on UK railway lands near working lines must carry a photographic ID card to indicate training in track safety (PTS and other cards) possession of which is dependent on periodic and random alcohol and drug screening . In Queensland and Western Australia , anyone working with children has to take a background check and get issued a Blue Card or Working with Children Card, respectively. Cartão Nacional de Identificação (CNI)

9396-464: The policy from taking effect. During his campaign for President of the United States , Joe Biden criticized the Public Charge rule and pledged to revoke it. On February 2, 2021, President Biden signed an executive order that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security review the policy, amongst others. A foreign national may obtain permanent residency in the United States primarily through

9504-599: The possibility of abuse of centralised databases storing sensitive data. A 2006 survey of UK Open University students concluded that the planned compulsory identity card under the Identity Cards Act 2006 coupled with a central government database generated the most negative response among several options. None of the countries listed above mandate identity documents, but they have de facto equivalents since these countries still require proof of identity in many situations. For example, all vehicle drivers must have

9612-473: The predecessor to the "Permanent Resident" card was the "Alien Registration Receipt Card" which on the back would indicate "Perm.Res" in accordance with the Immigration Act of 1924 . The INA, which was enacted by the U.S. Congress in 1952, states that "[t]he term ' alien ' means any person, not a citizen or national of the United States ." On September 30, 1996, President Clinton signed into law

9720-406: The priority date for those petition beneficiaries currently entitled to apply for immigrant status through immigrant visas or adjustment of status. There is no annual quota for the spouses, unmarried children, and parents of U.S. citizens, so there is no waiting period for these applicants—just the required processing time. However, all other family-based categories have significant backlogs, even with

9828-495: The process may take up to 10 years. Paperwork is processed on a first-come, first-served basis, so new applications may go untouched for several months. To address the issue of slow processing times, USCIS has made a policy allowing applicants to submit the I-130 and I-485 forms at the same time. This has reduced the processing time. Another delay in the process comes when applications have mistakes. In these cases papers are sent back to

9936-511: The process will be additional biographic data regarding the beneficiary (the person being sponsored) and a medical examination. Additional documents, such as police certificates, may be required depending on whether immigrant visa (consular processing) or adjustment of status is being utilized. All petitioners must supply the I-864 Affidavit of Support. Moreover, applicants who are in the United States unlawfully may be eligible to receive

10044-413: The relevant USCIS center or office to process. Case inquiries may involve asking about a case that is outside of normal expected USCIS processing times for the form. Inquiries and service requests may also concern not receiving a notice, card, or document by mail, correcting typographical errors, and requesting disability accommodations. If the self-service tools on USCIS's website cannot resolve an issue,

10152-400: The residency requirement. In addition to continuous residency, the applicants must demonstrate good moral character , pass both an English test and a civics test, and demonstrate attachment to the U.S. Constitution . In the summer of 2018, a new program was initiated to help LPRs prepare themselves for naturalization. Like U.S. citizens, LPRs can sponsor certain family members to immigrate to

10260-587: The rule. Kenneth T. Cuccinelli II , the former acting director of USCIS, stated the policy will "have the long-term benefit of protecting taxpayers by ensuring people who are immigrating to this country don't become public burdens, that they can stand on their own two feet, as immigrants in years past have done." The National Immigration Law Center stated that the rule "will have a dire humanitarian impact, forcing some families to forgo critical lifesaving health care and nutrition. The damage will be felt for decades to come." The law center announced it would sue to prevent

10368-683: The same organisation responsible for driver's licenses, usually called the Department of Motor Vehicles . Passport Cards hold limited travel status or provision, usually for domestic travel. For the Sahrawi people of Western Sahara , pre-1975 Spanish identity cards are the main proof that they were Saharawi citizens as opposed to recent Moroccan settlers. They would thus be allowed to vote in an eventual self-determination referendum . Companies and government departments may issue ID cards for security purposes, proof of identity , or also as proof of

10476-517: The security and level of acceptance of a national identity card, and which are used by people without driver's licenses. A number of countries have voluntary identity card schemes. These include Austria, Belize, Finland, France (see France section ), Hungary (however, all citizens of Hungary must have at least one of: valid passport, photo-based driving licence, or the National ID card), Iceland, Ireland, Norway, Saint Lucia, Sweden, Switzerland and

10584-472: The service centers, and manages all other immigration benefits functions (i.e., not immigration enforcement) performed by the former INS. The USCIS's other responsibilities include: While core immigration benefits functions remain the same as under the INS, a new goal is to process immigrants' applications more efficiently. Improvement efforts have included attempts to reduce the applicant backlog and providing customer service through different channels, including

10692-462: The spouse has been a resident for at least three years. USCIS handles all forms and processing materials related to immigration and naturalization. This is evident from USCIS's predecessor, the INS ( Immigration and Naturalization Service ), which is defunct as of March 1, 2003. USCIS handles two kinds of forms: those related to immigration, and those related to naturalization. Forms are designated by

10800-579: The spouses are divorced, it is possible to get a waiver of the other spouse's signing requirement, if it can be proved that the marriage was bona fide. The USCIS requires that the application for the removal of conditions provide both general and specific supporting evidence that the basis on which the applicant obtained conditional permanent residence was not fraudulent. For an application based on marriage, birth certificates of children, joint financial statements, and letters from employers, friends and relatives are some types of evidence that may be accepted. That

10908-456: The universal adoption of identity cards. In countries that do not have a national identity card, there is concern about the projected costs and potential abuse of high-tech smartcards. In many countries – especially English-speaking countries such as Australia , Canada , Ireland , New Zealand , the United Kingdom , and the United States – there are no government-issued compulsory identity cards for all citizens. Ireland's Public Services Card

11016-683: The world. A field USCIS office provides interviews for all non-asylum cases; naturalization ceremonies; appointments for information; and applicant services. USCIS Asylum offices schedule interviews only for asylum and suspension of deportation and special rule cancellation of removal under the Nicaraguan Adjustment and Central American Relief Act (NACARA). Asylum offices do not provide information services. Applications are not filed at asylum offices. International offices provide services to U.S. citizens, permanent U.S. residents, and certain other people who are visiting or residing outside

11124-575: Was ruled unlawful . He remained Principal Deputy Director at USCIS for the remainder of his tenure. The United States immigration courts , immigration judges, and the Board of Immigration Appeals , which hears appeals from them, are part of the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) within the United States Department of Justice . (USCIS is part of the Department of Homeland Security.) USCIS's official website

11232-647: Was compulsory in about 100 countries, though what constitutes "compulsory" varies. In some countries, it is compulsory to have an identity card when a person reaches a prescribed age. The penalty for non-possession is usually a fine, but in some cases it may result in detention until identity is established. For people suspected with crimes such as shoplifting or no bus ticket, non-possession might result in such detention, also in countries not formally requiring identity cards. In practice, random checks are rare, except in certain situations. A handful of countries do not issue identity cards. These include Andorra , Australia ,

11340-399: Was introduced. The biometric card is one of the acceptable documents required to apply for a Gambian Driving Licence. Ghana begun the issuing of a national identity card for Ghanaian citizens in 1973. However, the project was discontinued three years later due to problems with logistics and lack of financial support. This was the first time the idea of national identification systems in

11448-453: Was obtained through marriage) or form I-829 Petition by Entrepreneur to Remove Conditions (if conditional permanent residence was obtained through investment) with USCIS to have the conditions removed. Once the application is received, permanent residence is extended in 1-year intervals until the request to remove conditions is approved or denied. For conditional permanent residence obtained through marriage, both spouses must sign form I-751; if

11556-557: Was redesigned in 2009 and unveiled on September 22, 2009. The last major redesign before 2009 was in October 2006. The website now includes a virtual assistant, Emma, who answers questions in English and Spanish. USCIS's website contains self-service tools, including a case status checker and address change request form. Applicants, petitioners, and their authorized representatives can also submit case inquiries and service requests on USCIS's website. The inquiries and requests are routed to

11664-413: Was set to January 1, 1972. A number of bills have been introduced in Congress since then to further alter the registry date, but they have not been passed. On October 2, 2020, the USCIS declared the inadmissibility based on belonging or affiliation to Communist parties or any, unspecified, "totalitarian party". Membership or affiliation with such parties, whether US or foreign, would be incompatible with

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