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Non-numbered Immigration Forms
Foreign Passports
A passport is a travel document issued by a government agency showing the person's national origin, identity, and current nationality. This is valid for the entry of the person into a foreign country. Foreign passports are not proof of U.S. citizenship. Caution must be exercised as to the type of stamp that appears on a foreign passport since American Consulates grant visitors visas and other types of visas for temporary admission by stamping the foreign passport.
Exception: The only time a foreign passport can be proof of lawful permanent residence is when it is annotated by statements: “Processed for I-551” with a handwritten “Valid Until” date, or “Conditional Permanent Resident”.
“Processed for I-551”
USCIS may stamp a noncitizen's foreign passport with the words “Temporary evidence of permanent noncitizen status” as acceptable proof of legal entry pending issuance of an alien card. The USCIS stamp may give a date “valid until _______,” but the noncitizen's card may not be processed by the expiration date. USCIS confirms that the stamped foreign passport is considered proof of permanent resident noncitizen status even after the expiration date since the determination of permanent status was completed prior to the passport being stamped.
Note: Set an alert for six months in the future to request the noncitizen provide an updated USCIS document. If the recipient has not received their permanent alien card within this six-month period, refer the noncitizen to USCIS for verification. Set a new alert on the case for another six months to check for the receipt of the alien card.
“Conditional Resident”
Noncitizens granted conditional permanent residence under the “Immigration Marriage Fraud Amendments of 1986" may have their passports endorsed with the new conditional visa classification and the expiration date of the noncitizen's conditionally admitted status.
The passport of a noncitizen admitted on 11/15/86 as a conditional permanent resident would be endorsed:
ADMITTED: CR-1
UNTIL: November 15, 1988
These conditional permanent residents are eligible for CalWORKs, GA and CalFresh providing the expiration date has not passed and all other eligibility requirements are met.
Visas
A visa is a temporary authorization to enter the United States, usually in the form of a stamp (in a passport) or a card. Visas must be valid on the date of entry. The non-machine readable visa is printed with a multicolored ribbon, while the machine readable visas are stickers applied to the passport. Visas are issued by the DOS. There are two kinds of visas:
- Permanent Residence or Immigrant Visa which grants LPR status to the bearer, and
- Nonimmigrant Visas which grant the person permission to stay in the country (for example: tourists, students, etc.) but does not grant the person the privileges of the LPR.
Afghan and Iraqi Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs)
Displaced persons from Iraq and Afghanistan are being admitted to the U.S with SIVs. These displaced individuals were employed by or assisted the U.S. Armed Forces with translation and interpreter services. According to the Department of Defense Appropriations Act of 2010 (Section 8120, P. L. 111-118) enacted on December 19, 2009, provided that Afghan and Iraqi Special Immigrants are eligible for federal public benefits to the same extent and for the same time period as refugees.
Related Topics
Immigration Documents Overview