On March 16, 2023, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that lawful permanent residents now have the option to receive their temporary evidence of status by mail rather than having to physically visit a field office.
Temporary proof of status is available through an Alien Documentation, Identification and Telecommunication (ADIT) stamp, and USCIS has the discretion to determine those who will need to appear in person and those who have the option of receiving their ADIT by mail. Lawful permanent residents are entitled to an ADIT stamp if they do not have their green card, or their Form I-90 (Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card), Form I-751 (Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence), or form N-400 (Application for Naturalization), is pending adjudication, and their Green Card and extension notice expired.
An ADIT stamp can be obtained by calling the USCIS contact center. Once USCIS verifies the lawful permanent resident’s identity, mailing address, and ability to receive UPS or FedEx express mail, they will determine whether it’s necessary to schedule an in-person appointment or if and ADIT stamp should be issued by the field office by mail. If granted by mail, the applicant will receive a Form I-94 with an ADIT stamp, DHS seal, and their printed photos.
USCIS expects the new process to alleviate the time it takes for a lawful permanent resident to obtain temporary proof of status while increasing field office resources.
