Form I-551 is the official name for the United States Permanent Resident Card — the document most people call a "green card." If you work in HR or handle Form I-9 verification, you will encounter this document regularly. It is one of the most common List A documents presented during the I-9 process, and it is also one of the most frequently mishandled.
This guide explains what Form I-551 is, what the I-551 stamp means, where to find the document number, and exactly how to record a permanent resident card in Section 2 of Form I-9. Whether you are an HR professional completing an I-9 for the first time or an experienced compliance officer looking for a quick reference, this page has what you need.
Form I-551 is the permanent resident card issued by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to individuals who have been granted lawful permanent resident (LPR) status in the United States. The "I-551" designation is the USCIS form number — it is printed on the card itself.
The permanent resident card is commonly known as a "green card." The nickname dates back to the original version of the card, which was printed on green paper. Modern cards are not green — they use a white and blue design with multiple security features — but the name has stuck.
Is Form I-551 the same as a green card? Yes. They are the same document. "Form I-551," "permanent resident card," and "green card" all refer to the same thing. USCIS uses "Form I-551" in official contexts. Everyone else says "green card."
A permanent resident card serves as proof that the holder has been authorized to live and work in the United States permanently. It contains the cardholder's photo, name, date of birth, Alien Registration Number (A-Number), USCIS number, category of admission, card expiration date, and a machine-readable zone on the back.
For I-9 purposes, the permanent resident card is a List A document. That means it establishes both identity and employment authorization on its own — the employee does not need to present any additional documents. For a full list of acceptable I-9 documents, see our guide to valid forms of ID for the I-9.
An I-551 stamp — also called an ADIT stamp — is a temporary endorsement placed in a foreign passport by USCIS or U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). ADIT stands for Alien Documentation, Identification, and Telecommunication. The stamp serves as temporary evidence of lawful permanent resident status when the cardholder does not have a physical permanent resident card.
Common situations where someone may have an I-551 stamp instead of a card:
The I-551 stamp is typically valid for one year from the date it is placed in the passport, though some stamps may have shorter validity periods. The stamp includes the cardholder's A-Number and the expiration date.
I-9 relevance: A foreign passport containing an unexpired I-551 stamp (or an unexpired ADIT stamp) is a valid List A document for Form I-9 purposes. This is a separate document from the permanent resident card itself — meaning either one can be used, but they are recorded differently in Section 2.
The permanent resident card contains several different numbers, and this is where confusion starts. HR professionals frequently enter the wrong number on the I-9 because the card has multiple identifiers on both the front and back.
Here is what you will find on a current permanent resident card:
The critical distinction: When completing Section 2 of Form I-9, you need the 13-character document number from the back of the card — not the 9-digit A-Number from the front. This is one of the most common errors employers make, and it shows up as a finding in I-9 audits.
Note: Older versions of the permanent resident card have a slightly different layout. If you encounter a card that looks different from current versions, the document number may be in a different location. When in doubt, look for the longest alphanumeric code on the card — that is typically the document number. For help verifying a specific document, call our compliance team.
When an employee presents a permanent resident card (Form I-551) during the I-9 process, you will record it in List A of Section 2. Here is exactly what to enter in each field.
Document Title: Enter "U.S. Permanent Resident Card" or "Form I-551." Either is acceptable.
Issuing Authority: Enter "USCIS" or "U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services."
Document Number: Enter the 13-character alphanumeric document number from the back of the card. Do not enter the A-Number from the front.
Expiration Date: Enter the "Card Expires" date from the front of the card.
Because the permanent resident card is a List A document, you do not need anything in the List B or List C columns. The card alone satisfies the I-9 document requirement.
Yes. This is a critical point that many employers get wrong.
Lawful permanent resident status does not expire when the physical card does. The card has an expiration date, but the person's immigration status — their right to live and work in the United States — remains valid indefinitely (unless formally revoked through a legal proceeding).
Under the M-274 Handbook for Employers, USCIS guidance states that an expired permanent resident card is still an acceptable List A document for Form I-9. Employers who refuse to accept an expired permanent resident card, or who demand a different document instead, may be committing unfair immigration-related employment discrimination under Section 274B of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA).
In practice, this means: if an employee presents an expired permanent resident card for the I-9, accept it. Record the expiration date as shown on the card. Do not ask them to bring a different document or to provide proof that they have renewed the card.
Note: USCIS has also extended the validity of permanent resident cards in certain situations. For example, the automatic extension of permanent resident cards to 24 months applies when a renewal (Form I-90) has been properly filed. If an employee presents a card with an I-797 receipt notice showing a pending I-90, the card's validity is automatically extended.
For more on how the I-9 document verification process works, see our guide: What Is a Form I-9?
Not sure how to handle a specific document? Our compliance team has 27+ years of I-9 and E-Verify expertise. We can walk you through any document question — no charge.
A foreign passport with an unexpired I-551 stamp (ADIT stamp) is a separate List A document from the permanent resident card. It establishes both identity and employment authorization, just like the card itself. However, you record it differently in Section 2.
Document Title: Enter "Foreign Passport with I-551 Stamp" or "Foreign Passport with ADIT Stamp."
Issuing Authority: Enter the name of the country that issued the passport (e.g., "Mexico," "Philippines," "India") — not USCIS. USCIS placed the stamp, but the passport was issued by the foreign government.
Document Number: Enter the passport number — not the A-Number from the I-551 stamp.
Expiration Date: Enter the expiration date of the I-551 stamp, not the passport expiration date. This is the date that matters for I-9 purposes, because the stamp is what proves employment authorization.
Unlike the permanent resident card (which remains acceptable even after expiration), the I-551 stamp has a hard expiration date. Once the stamp expires, it is no longer valid for I-9 purposes.
When an employee's I-551 stamp is approaching expiration, you will need to reverify their employment authorization using Supplement B (formerly Section 3) of Form I-9. At that point, the employee should present a new document — typically their physical permanent resident card, which should have arrived by then, or a new I-551 stamp.
Do not reverify early. You must wait until the stamp's expiration date to complete Supplement B.
These are the errors we see most often when employers handle permanent resident cards during the I-9 process. Every one of them can result in a finding during an I-9 audit.
As explained above, permanent resident status does not expire when the card does. Refusing to accept an expired card — or asking the employee to bring a replacement — may violate anti-discrimination provisions under the INA. Accept the card, record the expiration date, and move on.
The A-Number (Alien Registration Number) is the 9-digit number on the front of the card. The document number is the 13-character code on the back. Section 2 asks for the document number. This mix-up is extremely common and is one of the first things ICE auditors check.
You cannot request that an employee present a specific document for the I-9. Under the anti-discrimination provisions of the INA, the employee chooses which acceptable documents to present from List A, B, or C. You may not say "bring your green card" — even if you know the employee is a permanent resident. If they choose to present a driver's license (List B) and an unrestricted Social Security card (List C), you must accept that combination.
Some HR professionals are not aware that a foreign passport with an I-551 stamp — also called an ADIT stamp — is a valid List A document. If an employee presents a foreign passport, check for an I-551 or ADIT stamp inside. If the stamp is present and unexpired, the passport qualifies as a standalone List A document — no additional documents needed.
Let our team handle document verification for you. With i9 Intelligence's remote I-9 verification, our trained authorized representatives complete Section 2 via video call. We review the documents, fill in the fields correctly, and ensure compliance — so your HR team doesn't have to second-guess every card and stamp that comes across the desk.
The I-551 is one of many USCIS forms that employees may reference or present during the I-9 process. Here is a quick reference comparing the documents that cause the most confusion.
| Document | Form Number | What It Is | Valid for I-9? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Permanent Resident Card (Green Card) | I-551 | Proof of lawful permanent resident status | Yes — List A |
| Foreign Passport with I-551 / ADIT Stamp | I-551 stamp | Temporary proof of permanent resident status | Yes — List A (stamp must be unexpired) |
| Employment Authorization Document (EAD) | I-766 | Proof of temporary work authorization | Yes — List A |
| Arrival/Departure Record | I-94 | Proof of lawful admission to the US | Not by itself |
| Notice of Action | I-797 | Receipt for a pending USCIS application | Limited — receipt rule only |
| Certificate of Eligibility (Student) | I-20 | Status document for F-1 students | No |
Key distinction: The I-551 (permanent resident card) and the I-766 (EAD) are both List A documents, but they represent different immigration statuses. The I-551 is for permanent residents. The I-766 is for people with temporary work authorization (such as TPS holders, asylum applicants, or certain visa holders). They are recorded the same way in Section 2, but they have different implications for reverification.
If an employee mentions a form number and you are not sure whether it is acceptable, consult the USCIS list of acceptable documents or call our compliance team.
Yes. Form I-551 is the official USCIS form number for the permanent resident card, which is commonly known as a green card. The designation "I-551" is printed on the card itself. "Form I-551," "permanent resident card," and "green card" all refer to the same document.
The document number is a 13-character alphanumeric code on the back of the card, typically located below the magnetic stripe. Do not confuse it with the 9-digit A-Number (Alien Registration Number) on the front of the card. When completing Section 2 of the I-9, enter the 13-character document number from the back.
Yes. Lawful permanent resident status does not expire when the physical card does. An expired permanent resident card remains an acceptable List A document for Form I-9. Rejecting an expired permanent resident card may constitute unfair immigration-related employment discrimination under Section 274B of the Immigration and Nationality Act.
An ADIT stamp (also called an I-551 stamp) is a temporary endorsement placed in a foreign passport by USCIS or CBP as proof of lawful permanent resident status. A foreign passport with an unexpired I-551 or ADIT stamp is a valid List A document for Form I-9 verification. Unlike the permanent resident card, the stamp does have a hard expiration date — once it expires, it is no longer acceptable.
Enter the 13-character alphanumeric document number from the back of the card. Do not enter the 9-digit USCIS Number or A-Number from the front. This is one of the most common errors found during I-9 audits.
If you have questions about permanent resident cards, I-551 stamps, or any other document that comes up during the I-9 process, our compliance team is here for you.
Call us at (713) 668-6200 (Mon-Fri, 8am-5pm CT), email support@i-9intelligence.com, or submit a ticket.
This article reflects USCIS guidance and I-9 requirements current as of February 2026. Immigration regulations change — always verify against the latest version of the M-274 Handbook for Employers and the USCIS I-9 Central page. This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Consult legal counsel for guidance specific to your organization.
