WASHINGTON: The color of green cards for aliens in U.S. is being changed from off white to pink in an effort to curb black marketing. A reproduction sells anywhere from $5,000 to $20,000.
Those who hold the cards have all the rights and privileges of citizens except they cannot vote, may not leave the country for more than a year without losing permanent resident status and do not hold U.S. passports,
‘The printing of new cards began Aug 1 at the Immigration Card Facility in Arlington Texas. The $4 million changeover of equipment will be completed within a few months, but until then, some of the cards being issued will remain off white.
One feature of the new cards is a stamped expiration date. The laminated cards will be valid for 10 years.
The cards also have the individual’s picture, fingerprint, name date of birth and file number on the front and encoded information on the back.
The new cards because of the encoded information will enable those who want replacements to do so by mail rather than in person, which had been required for the old cards.
The INS is processing applications of 1.8 million people who applied for temporary resident status under the amnesty program for those who have been in the United States since before 1982.
Article extracted from this publication >> September 1, 1989
