Beginning this week, employers may start seeing a new design of both green cards and Employment Authorization Documents (EAD’s) presented to them by employees for I-9 employment verification purposes. The cards have been redesigned with added security features in an effort to make forgeries more difficult. The new cards will:
- Display the individual’s photos on both sides;
- Show a unique graphic image and color palette:
- Green Cards will have an image of the Statue of Liberty and a predominately green palette;
- EAD cards will have an image of a bald eagle and a predominately red palette;
- Have embedded holographic images; and
- No longer display the individual’s signature.
You can check a card presented to you by an employee against the sample below (also found at uscis.gov). The new cards will have been issued on May 1, 2017 or later. USCIS may use up the remaining stock of the previous card design before moving on to the new cards.
Our firm offers I-9 training services and conducts internal audits to ensure your company is complying with proper I-9 completion, storage, and verification processes to prevent future fines in the event of an ICE or Department of Labor investigation or audit. ICE audits could be on the rise and employers may want to become compliant for a small price now rather than waiting to be hit by a large government fine later.
