Permanent Resident Cards (I-551)

Last updated
Save as PDF

This shows how to find the document number on the permanent resident card and the alien registration receipt card, and provides information on temporary Form I-551 records

Permanent Resident Card (Form I-551)

Lawful permanent residents can provide a Permanent Resident Card (Form I-551) or an Alien Registration Receipt Card (Form I-551) as a List A document for Section 2 of the I-9.

Alien Registration Receipt Card (Form I-551)

Document Number

The document number for a Permanent Resident Card (Form I-551) is 3 letters followed by 10 or 11 numbers. See the below for more information on the different versions of the I-551 Lawful Permanent Resident Cards with examples of how they look and where the document numbers (circled in red) can be found.

Current Form I-551, front and back (Jan 30, 2023)

USCIS began issuing this version of the Permanent Resident Card on January 30, 2023. Some cards issued after that date may still display the previous design because USCIS uses existing card stock until supplies are depleted. This version contains the bearer’s photo on the front and back, name, USCIS number/A-Number, date of birth, and card expiration date, along with updated artwork of the Statue of Liberty, holographic images on the front and back of the card, a new layer-reveal feature with a partial window on the back photo box, and data fields displayed in different places than on previous versions.

Front and Back of the current Form I-551 Lawful Permanent Resident card. Issued starting on January 30, 2023

Previous Form I-551, front and back (May 1, 2017)

Starting on May 1, 2017, USCIS issued this version of Form I-551, which contains the bearer’s photo on the front and back, name, USCIS number/A-Number, date of birth, laser-engraved fingerprint, and card expiration date. This card does not have a signature or a black stripe on the back.

Front and Back of the Form I-551 Lawful Permanent Resident card issued starting May 1, 2017

Older Form I-551, front and back (May 2010)

USCIS began issuing this version of Form I-551 in May 2010. This redesign changed the card color to green. The card contains the bearer’s photo, name, USCIS number/A-Number, date of birth, laser-engraved fingerprint, and card expiration date. The USCIS/A-Number is also located on the back of the card.

These cards may or may not contain a signature. A signature is not required for the card to be acceptable for Form I-9 purposes.

Front and Back of the Form I-551 Lawful Permanent Resident card issued starting May 2010.

Older Form I-551, front and back (pre-May 2010)

Another older version of the Form I-551 shows the DHS seal and contains a detailed hologram on the front of the card. Each card is personalized with an etching showing the bearer’s photo, name, fingerprint, date of birth, A-Number, and the card expiration date.

Front and Back of the Form I-551 Lawful Permanent Resident card issued before May 2010.

Alien Registration Receipt Card Form I-551 (January 1977 - August 1989)

Some employees may also have older Resident Alien cards, issued by the U.S. Department of Justice, Immigration and Naturalization Service between January 1977 and August 1989, which do not have expiration dates and are valid indefinitely. These cards are peach in color and contain the bearer’s fingerprint and photograph.

For the Form I-9, the document number for an Alien Registration Receipt Card (Form I-551) is one of the following:

"A" followed by 9 numbers
- Note: If there are not 9 numbers, please add a leading 0 to make it 9 numbers.
- These documents were issued between January 1977 and August 1989.
3 letters followed by 10 or 11 numbers

For E-Verify, please select "No document number" for Alien Registration Receipt Cards (Form I-551) issued between January 1977 and August 1989 with document number starting with and "A" followed by 9 numbers. The "No document number" option will not be available for records with a date of birth after 08/31/1989, due to these cards only being issued between January 1977 and August 1989.

Expiration Date

The Permanent Resident Card (Form I-551) typically has an expiration date whereas the Alien Registration Receipt Card (Form I-551) issued between January 1977 and August 1989 does not.

Types of Temporary Form I-551 (Requires Reverification)

I-551 Stamp on a Form I-94 with a Photograph
- A lawful permanent resident may present the arrival portion of an Arrival/Departure Record (Form I-94 or I-94A) that contains an unexpired temporary I-551 stamp and a photo as proof of employment authorization and identity. These documents are considered a receipt that is valid until the expiration date on the stamp, or one year after the issuance date if the stamp does not contain an expiration date. The employee must show you their new Permanent Resident Card (Form I-551) no later than when the stamp expires, or one year after U.S. Customs and Border Protection issues the Form I-94 if the stamp does not contain an expiration date. This combination of documents is acceptable as a List A "I-551 Stamp on a Form I-94 with a Photograph (No foreign passport)" in the Tracker I-9 system.
A Foreign passport containing a Form I-551 stamp or Form I-551 printed notation
- A foreign passport with either a temporary I-551 stamp or I-551 printed notation on a machine-readable immigrant visa (MRIV). They must present their Form I-551 to you when the stamp expires, or one year after the admission date if the stamp does not contain an expiration date. This combination of Documents is acceptable as List A "Foreign passport containing a Form I-551 stamp or Form I-551 printed notation" in the Tracker I-9 system.
  - Most MRIVs contains the following language on the visa: “UPON ENDORSEMENT SERVES AS TEMPORARY I-551 EVIDENCING PERMANENT RESIDENCE FOR 1 YEAR.” The one-year time period begins on the date of admission. If the employee receives an MRIV without the statement “FOR 1 YEAR,” you should treat the MRIV as evidence of permanent residence status for one year from the date of admission.
  - If the stamp in the passport is endorsed “CR-1” and is near but not on the MRIV, it is still a valid endorsement.
  - Enter the number in red font under the MRIV “Expires On” date as the document number.
Expired I-551 Permanent Resident Card with a Form I-797 Notice Action receipt for Petition to Remove Conditions.
- An expired Permanent Resident Card with a Form I-797, Notice of Action, receipt notice for either a Form I-751, Petition to Remove Conditions or a Form I-829, Petition by Investor to Remove Conditions on Permanent Resident Status, that indicates USCIS has extended the card’s validity is acceptable as a List C "DHS Employment Authorization Document" in the Tracker I-9 system.. You must reverify the employee’s employment authorization in Section 3 before their extension ends.
  - Note: when presented for use in Section 2 of the Form I-9 the hire must also provide a valid List B document.

Other Expired or Expiring I-551 Permanent Resident Card with I-797 Notice of Action Scenarios

Form I-797, Notice of Action, receipt notice for Form I-90, Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card. The receipt notice extends the Permanent Resident Card’s validity beyond the date on the front of the card. The receipt notice will specify the length of the automatic extension. This can be recorded as a List A "Permanent Resident Card (Form I-551)", we recommend keeping a copy of the I-797 with any scan of the I-551 Permanent Resident Card and noting the extension in the Additional Information field.
Form I-797C, Notice of Action, receipt notice for Form N-400, Application for Naturalization, that contains an automatic extension of the Permanent Resident Card. The receipt notice extends the Permanent Resident Card’s validity beyond the date on the front of the card. The receipt notice will specify the length of the automatic extension. This can be recorded as a List A "Permanent Resident Card (Form I-551)", we recommend keeping a copy of the I-797 with any scan of the I-551 Permanent Resident Card and noting the extension in the Additional Information field.