Form I-551, what is it and why is it important?

Form I-551
What is it and why is it important?

Form I-551 is a residence document issued by the United States that will be necessary to apply for citizenship or permanent legal status. The I-551 form is important and must be taken into account, since it allows you to obtain benefits in education, health, employment and social security.

What is Form I-551?

Form I-551 is the form number for a permanent Green Card, although it is also known as Form I-551. What does the green card mean? The green card is a document that is valid for life and allows you to obtain benefits in the United States permanently.

Why is Form I-551 Important?

It is important because it allows you to obtain benefits in education, health, employment and social security. These benefits are essential for permanent residents living within the jurisdiction of the I-1551 form.

Form I-551 includes all communities certain information about an individual with this document; it is divided by denominations or reasons. The form not only contains details about nationality, but also includes how the individual obtained their I-551, social security numbers, and dates of entry and exit from the country.

Temporary Form I-551 for New Immigrants

People who obtain this form, can apply for the permanent residency form. The green card form does not include this benefit and also requires a separate application; however, the temporary form I-551 has a certain period after which it becomes permanent without the need to make any additional applications.

If permanent residence has been granted at a United States embassy, a consular officer will affix a Machine Readable Immigrant Visa (MRIV) permanently and the temporary form I-551 will be removed.

Form I-551 is necessary to complete the requirements for naturalization or US citizenship, which implies acceptance by the federal government as a new ethnic country. The document also allows obtaining benefits in education, health, employment and social security in addition to the permanent residence format; however, there are people who cannot request this document because they are temporary immigrants.

When a new immigrant first enters the United States, a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer will stamp the passport with an admission stamp indicating that they have permanent resident status. The stamp will also include the date the immigrant entered the United States.

What happens if you lose your Green Card?

USCIS will allow you to issue a temporary form I-551 for permanent residents who have a lost, stolen, or destroyed green card. However, the temporary form I-551 has a certain period after which it becomes permanent without the need to make any additional applications. If you are applying for the Green Card to renew your residency, USCIS will also issue you temporary forms until the filing documents and deadlines are granted.

Formally known as the Foreign Documentation, Identification and Telecommunications (ADIT) seal, this seal will be necessary if you need to prove your status while waiting for the new card to arrive.

How to obtain the Foreign Documentation, Identification and Telecommunications Seal (ADIT)?

Here are the steps you must take to obtain this seal in case you lose your Green Card:

Complete form I-90.
Pay the application and presentation form ($410).
Report to USCIS for the initial interview.

If you need documents at a US embassy, you may be granted two temporary forms of the ADIT seal:

* Temporary format if you have a lost or stolen Green Card and cannot go to USCIS because you reside outside the United States. The temporary format means that while you are dealing with authorities to obtain filing forms, the person who timestamped you will continue to deliver documents to USCIS.

* Temporary form if you have a destroyed green card (Green Card) but want to renew your residence and work permit. If you requested the temporary format during an initial interview prior to the United States or at a US consulate, this format can be used for two (2) months with no prior formal request or additional cost; however, after the deadline, USCIS will ask you for filing forms and temporary format.

Regardless of the type of document (unexpired green card or temporary document), this form is valid proof of permanent resident status for the purposes of employment and re-entry to the United States after a trip abroad. Employers must accept Form I-551 as a valid I-9 document, as long as it is not expired.

If you want to know more information about the I-551 form and need legal support during the process, do not hesitate to contact us at (909)319-7103 / 1 (800) 559-7170, visit us at 228 West C Street Ontario CA 91762 or contact us by clicking here.