USCIS has introduced an additional mail delivery process for lawful permanent residents to obtain temporary evidence of their status, eliminating the need for a physical visit to a field office for the Alien Documentation, Identification, and Telecommunication (ADIT) stamp, commonly known as an I-551 stamp.
Lawful permanent residents can now request temporary evidence of their status by contacting the USCIS Contact Center. During this interaction, an immigration services officer will verify the resident's identity, mailing address, and the address's ability to receive UPS or FedEx express mail. If an in-person appointment is necessary, it will be scheduled; otherwise, a request for the ADIT stamp will be submitted to the USCIS field office. Upon review, the field office will mail the applicant a Form I-94 with ADIT stamp, DHS seal, and a printed photo obtained from USCIS systems.
Temporary evidence in the form of an ADIT stamp may be issued by USCIS, with the validity period determined based on the resident's situation, not exceeding one year unless specified otherwise by regulation or policy. The decision to grant an ADIT stamp rests with USCIS, considering individual circumstances.
While some residents may still need to appear in person at a USCIS field office due to urgent needs, lack of a usable photo in USCIS systems, or unconfirmed address or identity, the new mail delivery process aims to streamline the issuance of temporary evidence without necessitating scheduled field office appointments. This change is expected to ease the process for applicants, reducing their burden and enhancing the availability of field office resources.
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